NHL issues 'laughable' Radko Gudas suspension for hit that ended Auston Matthews' season

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced on Friday night that it has suspended Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas five games for kneeing Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews on Thursday night. Gudas was ejected from the game, while Matthews was injured and did not return.

The Maple Leafs announced on Friday evening that Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear, as well as a hip contusion, and is going to be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. He will be evaluated again in two weeks.

Gudas had to be suspended for the hit, as it was a blatant cheap shot from a player who has a history of crossing the line.

But in typical Department of Player Safety fashion, George Parros and his staff fell far short of what the situation called for, with Matthews' agent calling the suspension "laughable and preposterous."

Radko Gudas history demanded harsher punishment

There are several factors that are supposed to be taken into account when it comes to potential fines or suspensions.

The first thing that the department looks at is whether or not the play itself is worthy of a suspension. The player names, history and result of the play in terms of injury are not yet taken into account at this stage. The play is simply looked at in a vacuum with the question of: Does this play warrant a suspension?

If the answer to that question is no, then there is simply no suspension and player history is not taken into account. This is supposed to serve as a protection for the players to make sure individuals are not unfairly targeted or punished based on their reputation. 

If the answer to the question is yes, that is when variables like a potential injury and the offending player's disciplinary history become a factor. 

Those two factors should have resulted in the league bringing down the hammer on Gudas. 

Instead, they gave him a light tap on the wrist. 

Not only did Gudas' reckless and blatant hit end the season of one of the league's top stars, it is also the fifth time in Gudas' career that he has been suspended. Prior to this incident, he had received suspensions of two, three, six and 10 games — 21 games in total. 

The fact that the NHL did not even feel the need to have an in-person hearing with him, which could have sent the suspension beyond five games, is an appalling decision. 

Matthews' agent, Judd Moldaver, hammered that point in a statement to several Canadian media members shortly after the suspension was announced.