Radko Gudas Brings Hard-Hitting Style To Panthers

Radko Gudas was a mean customer for the Flyers, a hard-hitting and frequent-hitting defenseman.

His play sometimes required jurisprudence, with four suspensions in three years. The Florida Panthers’ defenseman is still rocking opponents but has toned down the illicit stuff. He hasn’t been ejected in his three seasons with the Panthers.

He was second in the league in hits this season with 312.

Gudas’ Panthers trail the Vegas Golden Knights, 1-0, in the Stanley Cup finals with Game 2 tonight. Vegas won the opener, 5-2.

Gudas was dinged up in Game 1 and didn’t take a regular shift. He had 11:30 of ice time on 20 shifts. His regular-season ice time average was 17:22.

“That is something I looked at and tried to learn from my mistakes,” Gudas told Florida Hockey Now about his penchant for drawing suspensions. “Since then, I have done a pretty good job of applying that to my game, try to be smarter. Still be physical, but be smarter in those situations.

“I think it is a learning process. It took me years to get better at it. But you never want to be out of the game.

“I think it’s important for everyone to learn from the things that happen. It’s a fast game, too. Things happen quickly so the more guys are ready for the hit or making a decision not to hit, it’s good to help grow the game.”

Gudas’ Role

Gudas, who turned 33 today, had two goals and 15 assists this season. He was a plus-14 and had 79 penalty minutes. He was 31st in the NHL in penalty minutes. Three of Gudas’ teammates had more penalty minutes.

He remains a physical presence, someone opponents must be aware of at all times. He is the Panthers’ franchise leader in hits with 917.

“Everybody has got their role in the room and Radko has a unique personality,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said of the Czechia player earlier in the season.

“When he is wired into the game, it just brings everyone else into the game. There aren’t a lot of bumps in his game, there’s not a lot of light contact. It’s usually noticed by the bench and it fires them up.”

Gudas For Niskanen

The Flyers traded Gudas after four seasons (2015-19). In his last year in Philadelphia, Gudas won the Barry Ashbee Trophy for most outstanding Flyers defenseman. In four seasons with the Flyers, Gudas played 290 games. He had 7 goals, 56 assists, was a plus-11 with 355 penalty minutes.

Gudas went to the Capitals in June 2019 for defenseman Matt Niskanen, who was a year removed from winning the Stanley Cup with Washington.

Niskanen played one season for the Flyers, then unexpectedly retired at age 33 after a 13-year career. His retirement was a blow to the Flyers, who expected Niskanen to continue stabilizing the defense. The Flyers were coming off a playoff berth and a quarterfinal-round loss in seven games to the Islanders.

Losing Niskanen hurt the Flyers.

Niskanen blended in with defensive partner Ivan Provorov on the Flyers’ top defensive pairing. Niskanen lifted Provorov’s game. Observers believe Provorov had his best NHL season playing with Niskanen.

Gudas’ Future

Gudas went to Florida in October 2020 as a free agent. His future is uncertain as an unrestricted free agent. He is the 22nd-ranked UFA on The Daily Faceoff’s list of top 50 free agents. He is projected by AFP Analytics to receive a three-year, $3.3 million per year contract. As a right-handed shooting defenseman, he will receive offers.

Gudas has indicated a desire to stay with Florida.

But first, the quest for the Stanley Cup continues for the Panthers, who were the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

At a news conference before the finals, Gudas was asked about the amazing run by Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. The Panthers won 11 of 12 playoff games coming into the finals.

Gudas was asked if the team is treating Bobrovsky like a baseball team would treat a pitcher who is in the middle of a no-hitter. Baseball superstition dictates teammates avoid talking to the pitcher who is working on a no-hitter.

“I don’t know what a no-hitter is … That doesn’t sound familiar, a no-hitter, for me,” he said with a laugh. “Doesn’t sound like a fun game.”

Game 2 (Vegas leads the series, 1-0)

Who: Florida Panthers at Vegas Golden Knights

What: Stanley Cup Final

When: 8 p.m. Monday

Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

TV: TNT

How Florida got here: Defeated Boston in 5; defeated Toronto in 5; defeated Carolina in 4.

How Vegas got here: Defeated Winnipeg in 5; defeated Edmonton in 6; defeated Dallas in 6

Game 1: Vegas 5, Florida 2

Game 3: Vegas at Florida, 8 p.m. Thursday, TNT