On Wednesday, superstar left winger Johnny Gaudreau shocked the hockey world with news that he signed a seven-year contract to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The blockbuster deal with reportedly worth $68.25 million. As crazy as it was that he signed with Columbus, later in the evening it was revealed how much money he left on the table in Calgary, and it is mind-boggling.

According to Hockey Insider Frank Seravalli, Gaudreau left somewhere between $15 million and $17.5 million on the table.

The Calgary Flames had reportedly been very aggressive trying to re-sign Johnny Gaudreau prior to free agency. On Monday, the Flames general manager Brad Treliving announced that he was not going to return, referencing he was about to have a child.

It's likely that Gaudreau wanted to be closer to family with a baby on the way. He is from Salem County, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders were all rumored to be in the mix for the former Flames superstar's services. But no one saw Columbus coming. That is especially true considering how much money he left on the table.

But Gaudreau should probably be commended for his decision. It is not often you see a professional athlete make a decision to leave that type of money on the table.

The situation he now finds himself in is certainly not advantageous in terms of contending. The Calgary Flames were in a great spot, having just won the Pacific Division and finished second in points in the west. But Columbus finished sixth in the Metropolitan division. Considering the depth of talent in the east, it's likely the Blue Jackets will not be contending, even with Gaudreau.