The NHL's statement called Garrett a beloved colleague, friend, and one of the most familiar voices in Canadian hockey.
That line hit hard because it matched exactly how generations of fans knew him.
To many in Vancouver, Garrett was never background noise on a broadcast.
He was part of the night, part of the rhythm, and part of the connection between the game and the people watching it.
-
The league also pointed to the traits that defined him best: warmth, humour, authenticity, and a real love for hockey.
Those weren't empty words in a statement. They were the reason his voice carried so much trust.
Garrett's reach went well beyond one market.
He became a familiar presence for Canadian fans because he brought sharp insight without sounding forced, and because he made the game feel welcoming.
That matters on a day like this.
Hockey loses respected people every year, but not every loss feels this personal to so many corners of the sport at once.
What made Garrett stand out was how natural he sounded. He could break down a save, a bad bounce, or a bench decision in a way that felt honest and easy to follow.
The NHL said he brought heart to every broadcast, and that may be the clearest way to frame his legacy.
He didn't just talk about hockey. He made fans feel closer to it.
That kind of connection lasts.
It stays with viewers long after the final horn, and it is why the reaction to this news has been so emotional.
The statement also said Garrett will be remembered not only for his remarkable career, but for the kindness and joy he shared with everyone who knew him.
That is where the story sits today. John Garrett was an icon on the air, but the grief around hockey tells you something even bigger: he was cherished as a person.
|
YESTERDAY
APRIL 27, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Brett Howden | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Jack Eichel | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Mikhail Sergachev | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Nick Schmaltz | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sidney Crosby | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Noah Hanifin | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Rasmus Ristolainen | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Alex Bump | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Michael Carcone | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Ian Cole | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Connor Dewar | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Pavel Dorofeyev | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Clayton Keller | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Kristopher Letang | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Travis Sanheim | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cole Smith | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Elmer Soderblom | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Shea Theodore | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Ivan Barbashev | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Noah Cates | - | 1 | 1 | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||