Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas finds himself in hot water with the NHL once again. The league’s Department of Player Safety handed down a five-game suspension and a hefty $104,166.65 fine for his knee-to-knee hit on Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. This incident took place during the Leafs' 6-4 victory on Thursday night.
This marks the fifth suspension in Gudas’ 14-year NHL career, with his last one dating back to 2019 for high-sticking Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Gudas’ most significant suspension was a 10-game penalty back in 2017 for slashing Mathieu Perreault. The 35-year-old defenseman is set to return on March 24, when Anaheim faces the Vancouver Canucks on the road.
While Gudas isn’t classified as a “repeat offender” regarding the fine, his overall history certainly played a role in the supplemental discipline decision. The play in question occurred at 15:47 of the second period, with the Ducks leading 3-2.
Gudas extended his left leg, making contact with Matthews’ knee just as Matthews was gearing up for a scoring opportunity. Matthews went down in visible pain, left the ice without putting weight on his leg, and didn’t return to the game.
The hit earned Gudas a five-minute major and a game misconduct, giving Toronto a power play advantage that they capitalized on, scoring twice and snapping their eight-game winless streak.
Ducks coach Joel Quenneville defended Gudas, suggesting there was no malicious intent. However, Toronto coach Craig Berube and Leafs center John Tavares saw it differently, labeling the hit as dirty. The tension boiled over in the third period, with rookie Easton Cowan dropping the gloves against Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who acknowledged the chippy nature of the game.
Looking ahead, the Ducks might turn to their new acquisition, John Carlson, to fill the gap left by Gudas. Carlson, who came over from the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline, has been practicing with the team while recovering from a lower-body injury. His return could bolster Anaheim’s defense, joining Jacob Trouba and providing a veteran presence alongside the team’s young talent.
Gudas has contributed two goals, 11 assists, and 45 penalty minutes this season, maintaining a minus-1 rating. Anaheim is clinging to a narrow lead in the Pacific Division, eyeing their first playoff appearance since 2018. With Gudas out, the Ducks will need to lean on their depth and experience to keep their playoff hopes alive.