Patrik Laine speaks out on the death of Johnny Gaudreau & his brother Matthew

On Thursday night, Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by a drunk driver in Salem, New Jersey. They were riding their bikes when Sean Higgins allegedly swerved into their lane. It is a horrible tragedy that has only gotten worse in terms of emerging details. For instance, the two were supposed to celebrate their sister's wedding this weekend. Moreover, Matthew was expecting his first child.

Following the news of Gaudreau's passing, Laine took to social media where he offered his thoughts and reactions to the news. "Rest in peace brother," he wrote with a couple of emojis. It wasn't a huge statement, but it was one that speaks to how speechless some of the players have been left.

If you are someone who wants to help out during this very difficult time, you can consider donating the GoFundMe that was created for Matthew's wife Madeline. Their child is expected later this year and she is going to need all of the help she can get.

Meanwhile, fans are currently paying tribute to Johnny Gaudreau in a plethora of different ways. We have seen all sorts of amazing tributes, including flowers being placed at the arenas in both Calgary and Columbus. When the season begins in October, we're sure we will be seeing plenty of incredible tributes from all 32 teams.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the Gaudreau family, and the hockey community during this incredibly difficult time. We hope everyone is able to find peace and that they get the help they need and deserve.