Imagine going on a trip, and the minute you get a network—boom—you find out you’ve been traded. That’s exactly what happened to a Columbus Blue Jackets star, and to add more spice to the story, it was his wife who first came across the news on the internet! In the year 2016, the Florida Panthers traded away defenseman Erik Gudbranson to the Vancouver Canucks for forward Jared McCann.

Gudbranson had been with Florida for five straight years and had played 309 games, scoring 11 goals and 32 assists, and contributed to the Panthers’ two playoff appearances. He had just inked a deal for the upcoming season, probably thinking he was set—until the trade blindsided him. Now, years later, his name is back in the news, but not for his performances on the ice–this time it was for the incredible way he and his family learned that he was going to be traded to a new team!

The Columbus Blue Jackets star’s wife, Sarah Gudbranson, didn’t even hesitate when asked if she had any wild trade stories—because did she have a good one. “Our craziest one was definitely when he got traded from Florida to Vancouver, because I think at that point, neither of us saw it coming.” Her husband was off in Africa, just vibing with a teammate, totally off the grid. Meanwhile, Sarah was in Florida, deep in the grind of dental school.

She came home from a long night at the clinic, made dinner, crashed on the couch, and casually started scrolling Instagram—only to have her jaw drop. “I saw that he got traded.” No heads-up, no warning, just an Instagram post flipping their world upside down. And just as the shock hit, her phone rang. “And then two seconds later, his agent calls me, and he explains everything.”

But Gudbranson? Oh, he was really in for a surprise. “Eric found out 12 hours later, because he was on a riverboat cruise with no Wi-Fi.” Yep, twelve hours of total bliss while the entire hockey world knew his fate before he did. The man was just floating down a river, completely unaware that his career had taken a hard left turn. “So everybody knew he’d been traded, and he had no clue.” If there was ever an award for the most blindsided trade moment, this one takes the cake.

And even Erik Gudbranson has his own story about his trade. “Actually, I was in Africa; I didn’t find out until two days after,” he admitted on the Mitts Off podcast. “I was in Chobe National Park on a houseboat, no service.” And when he did move? “We did a transfer; I couldn’t even tell you on a map. I could show you Chobe National Park, but where I actually was, I have no idea.” Imagine your entire career shifting, and you’re just out there, unknowingly soaking in the scenery.

But the real kicker? He was not even the first on his Africa trip to discover that. “We were going in a car and ending up in Zimbabwe and going to see Victoria Falls. I get to the hotel, and I’m with my buddy, and my phone just starts blowing up, and he looked at me first, he’s like, ‘Dude, you got traded.’” His reaction? Pure disbelief. “‘I’m like, ‘No I didn’t, get out of here.’” But one look at his phone? Confirmed. “Jim Benning ‘Where are you,’ Trevor Linden ‘Hey.’”

And by the time he called his girlfriend—now his wife—she was way ahead of him. “I’m like, ‘Hey babe, sorry but I’ve got to tell you something,’ and she’s like, ‘Don’t worry about it. I found out 36 hours ago, where the hell have you been.’” Fast forward, and Erik Gudbranson’s rocking that Columbus Blue Jackets jersey, making waves like it’s just another day in the office.

The Columbus Blue Jackets’ star is making waves!

After months of grinding through rehab, the Columbus Blue Jackets officially activated the veteran defenseman, along with forward Sean Monahan. Erik Gudbranson had missed 66 games due to a severe shoulder injury that occurred in the first game of the year against Florida—yep, way back in October. Surgery happened, and the process of rehabilitation was not as smooth as strolling in the park. But now? He’s lacing up, ready to bring the heat. Since stepping onto NHL ice in 2011, Gudbranson has suited up for a laundry list of teams, but Columbus has been his home since 2022.

And when he finally hit the ice again? Gudbranson didn’t waste any time getting into the game as he earned an assist and had a plus-2 rating in a 7-6 shootout against the Canucks. It was only his second game back, and he seemed to be in his element as if he had never left the rink. Sure, he’s in a third-pairing role for now, but don’t count him out. With competition from guys like Jake Christiansen and Jack Johnson, he’s got to fight to keep his spot, but that’s never been a problem for him.

In the last season, the 6-foot-5 defenseman scored 26 points, which was the highest in his career, and while this season might not be a dream for fantasy hockey, the Columbus Blue Jackets are not looking for fantasy points. And if his first couple of games back are any indication, Gudbranson is here to let everyone know that he never really went anywhere.

After months of grinding through rehab, the Columbus Blue Jackets officially activated the veteran defenseman, along with forward Sean Monahan. Erik Gudbranson had missed 66 games due to a severe shoulder injury that occurred in the first game of the year against Florida—yep, way back in October. Surgery happened and the process of rehabilitation was not as smooth as strolling in the park. But now? He’s lacing up, ready to bring the heat. Since stepping onto NHL ice in 2011, Gudbranson has suited up for a laundry list of teams, but the Blue Jackets have been his home since 2022.

And when he finally hit the ice again? Gudbranson didn’t waste any time getting into the game as he earned an assist and had a plus-2 rating in a 7-6 shootout against the Canucks. It was only his second game back, and he seemed to be in his elements as if he has never left the rink. Sure, he’s in a third-pairing role for now, but don’t count him out. With competition from guys like Jake Christiansen and Jack Johnson, he’s got to fight to keep his spot, but that’s never been a problem for him.

In the last season, the 6-foot-5 defenseman scored 26 points, which was the highest in his career, and while this season might not be a dream for the fantasy hockey, Columbus Blue Jackets are not looking for fantasy points. And if his first couple of games back are any indication, Gudbranson is here to let everyone know that he never really went anywhere.