NHL News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Newsletter

Panthers Secure Defensive Structure with Radko Gudas Trade

Radko Gudas, Florida Panthers (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Panthers Secure Defensive Structure with Radko Gudas Trade

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Joey Ganzi | Last updated Jun 30, 2026 12:10 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

The NHL Entry Draft has come and gone for the Florida Panthers, who ultimately made their selections and decided not to make any big trades during the event. With that, the new focus is on free agency, as it starts this coming Wednesday. Knowing this, general manager Bill Zito is looking to plug up some important leaks within his roster.

While a goaltender seems to be the main priority, there are also other issues on the ice. The third defensive pairing had a revolving door of players this season due to injuries and poor performance. On Monday evening, the Panthers traded the rights of pending free agent forward A.J. Greer to acquire the rights of Anaheim Ducks defenseman and captain Radko Gudas, bringing back the veteran defenseman.

Gudas’ Short History With the Panthers

In the offseason of 2021, Zito initially signed the defenseman to a three-year contract worth $2.5 million per season.

Through those three seasons in South Florida, he dressed for 203 games regular season games. In those games, he found the back of the net seven times, was credited with 27 assists, and had a plus-47 rating. He was also featured in 21 playoff games over the span of those three seasons. This includes a run to the Stanley Cup Final back in 2023. He was arguably a fan favorite due to the skill set he brought to the team.

Because of his earlier stint there, he already has chemistry with most of the locker room, and he understands head coach Paul Maurice’s system well.

He Adds More Grit to an Already Gritty Team

One of the biggest things about the team bringing back Gudas is the extra layer of sandpaper he now brings to the front, as he joins a gritty bunch that is being put together by Zito and company.

Already on the roster, the team has forwards Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Jonah Gadjovich. They are all arguably controversial players with their playstyle. Last week, they traded for former Ottawa Senators forward, captain, and brother of Matthew, Brady Tkachuk. Around that same time frame, the team acquired former Philadelphia Flyers forward Garrett Hathaway. Gudas will fit right at home with the aggressive style this roster brings to the table.

The Big Question: How Long Will He Be Here For?

Earlier this month, Gudas turned 36 and missed time last season due to a knee injury. And with his style of play, he is risking getting hurt once again. Even in his time with Florida, he never once played a full season.

With that in mind, Panthers fans could very well be seeing the last of Gudas. Ultimately, time will tell on that front.

What About his Contract?

In his most recent contract with the Ducks, he was making $4 million per season over the course of three seasons. That was the most he’s made in his career.

As previously mentioned, he was making a little more than half that during his three-year tenure with the Panthers. Given his age and his recent deals, he is very likely taking a pay cut. And given Florida’s cap situation, it’ll be mutually beneficial to both parties if that is the route they agree on.

Welcome Home, Butcher!

This is a housewarming party that the team has been planning for a while, as they’ve shown interest in bringing him back over the last few weeks.

And with him back at the helm, captain Aleksander Barkov gets his high-five buddy back. Furthermore, he gets a legitimate shot at winning a Stanley Cup with a potential contender before he calls it a career. In this situation, everyone wins with this reunion.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: