Radko Gudas Receives Five-Game Suspension

After a knee-on-knee collision that ultimately ended Auston Matthews‘ season, supplemental discipline was widely expected for Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas.  After a phone hearing today, the Department of Player Safety announced (video link) that the blueliner has received a five-game suspension.  That is the maximum suspension for a phone hearing.

The incident occurred in the second period of Thursday’s game.  The initial call was five-and-a-game for kneeing which was upheld after video review.  In the Player Safety ruling, it was noted that Gudas, though trying to make a legal body check, was in full control on the play.  That puts the onus on him to deliver a legal check, which he did not do by leading with his knee, resulting in a “forceful, dangerous, and direct knee-on-knee collision.”

This is the fifth suspension for Gudas in his career, but the first since 2019 when he received a five-game ban for high-sticking.  As a result of the time between suspensions, he is not considered a repeat offender for the purpose of forfeited salary.  As a result, he will lose $104,166.65, which goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.  With these five games, Gudas will now have been suspended for a total of 26 games in his career.  It’s the third-longest suspension he has received, following a 10-game ban in 2017 for slashing and a six-game suspension in 2016 for a late high hit.

It’s fair to say that Matthews’ agent, Judd Moldaver of The-Team (formerly Wasserman), is not a fan of the ruling.  Asked for comment by reporters, including Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman (Twitter link), Moldaver released the following statement:

In light of the obvious severity of the play, I am disappointed and shocked the league would allow such a ruling. A phone hearing and 5 games is laughable and preposterous.

While the process is set in our CBA, that this was the discipline is reckless and ridiculous.

This decision results in a further loss of confidence in the disciplinary process for all players.

Players and fans deserve better. The Player Safety Department should be suspended.

Meanwhile, the loss of Gudas is noteworthy for Anaheim.  The captain is a regular on their back end, taking a regular turn on the penalty kill.  With John Carlson still working his way back from a lower-body injury, the Ducks will have to dip a little deeper into their defensive depth for the time being, heading into a back-to-back road set this weekend.