Just the little things that make it a little more fun,
Radko Gudas said after discovering his skate laces wound tightly together inside the Anaheim Ducks visitor locker room on Saturday, as nhl.com reported. The veteran defenseman returned to Orange County ahead of the Florida Panthers’ Sunday matchup at the Honda Center, stepping back into the facility where he spent the previous three seasons.
Anaheim Reunion and Pranks in Orange County
The visiting locker room arrival brought immediate lighthearted friction as Gudas found a cup of water teetering inside his helmet alongside his tied skates. While the 36-year-old blueliner declined to name names to nhl.com, he visited with several former teammates before Sunday’s 8 p.m. ET puck drop broadcast on Prime Video, KCOP-13, SCRIPPS, and TVAS. Gudas spent three years anchoring the Anaheim defense, guiding the franchise to its first Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance since 2018 last season. That postseason run included a Western Conference First Round series win in six games against the Edmonton Oilers before a second-round exit against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Following that success, Gudas signed a six-year contract with the Panthers on July 1, returning to the organization he played for from 2020 to 2023. Just three games into the current campaign, the reunion arrived quickly. Definitely a bit strange,
Gudas told nhl.com. I had the orange on a couple months ago.
Mentoring Young Defensemen on the Anaheim Blueline
During his three-year tenure in Southern California, Gudas anchored a defensive unit featuring teenagers and early-twenties prospects like Pavel Mintyukov, Jamie Drysdale, and Jackson LaCombe. Though Drysdale was later traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for forward Cutter Gauthier, both Mintyukov and LaCombe signed long-term contract extensions following extended minutes alongside the veteran. LaCombe, who was primarily paired with Gudas during his rookie campaign, credited the veteran with refining his defensive discipline. There’s a time and a place in the game where you want to play offense, or take chances to do things, but he was so good at managing the game and knowing the right times and always being so positive with you, wanting the best for you,
LaCombe said, according to nhl.com.
Florida coach Paul Maurice noted that while Gudas commands attention for his physical style, the vast majority of his play stems from veteran positioning. Gudas has accumulated five career NHL suspensions, most notably a five-game ban for kneeing Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews on March 12, which sidelined the seven-time All-Star for the remainder of the season. He’s hit some guys that the camera’s been on him,
Maurice told nhl.com. But, 90 percent, 95 percent of his game, he’s just a good veteran defenseman that reads the play really well.
Game Preparation Ahead of Sunday Night Puck Drop
Ducks coach Joel Quenneville, who previously coached Gudas in Florida and last season in Anaheim, highlighted the sharp contrast between the defenseman’s aggressive on-ice persona and his family-oriented life away from the rink. Quenneville indicated the Ducks do not need to approach Gudas any differently than other physical competitors across the League, though LaCombe admitted the younger roster will maintain heightened awareness. On our side of things, you have to keep your head up and be careful when he’s out there. He knows how to hit really well,
LaCombe told nhl.com. For us, we just want to play fast and try to get around him a little bit, but he’s a good defenseman, so it’s tough.
Reflecting on his time leading the franchise, Gudas described wearing the captaincy for Anaheim last season as a career highlight, expressing confidence in the team’s trajectory. They’re a young, talented team, quick,
Gudas said to nhl.com. They have all the right tools early in their careers, so they’re a very exciting team to watch and an exciting team to play against.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Matchup
When did Radko Gudas sign with the Florida Panthers?
Gudas signed a six-year contract with Florida on July 1, returning to the franchise after playing three seasons in Anaheim where he served as team captain and helped secure a playoff berth.
How far did the Anaheim Ducks advance in the playoffs last season?
The Ducks advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, defeating the Edmonton Oilers in a six-game opening series before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games.
Where can fans watch the Anaheim Ducks home opener?
The Sunday home opener against the Florida Panthers streams at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video, and broadcasts locally on KCOP-13, SCRIPPS, and TVAS.
What prior suspension did Radko Gudas receive from the NHL?
Gudas received a five-game suspension on March 12 for kneeing Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, an incident that ended Matthews’ season due to a knee injury.
Background Check on Roster Adjustments
He meant so much to all of us here the last three years he was here, especially us younger guys that got to learn from him and really treated us well,
LaCombe said, as nhl.com reported, noting that the team’s young core signed long-term extensions after breaking into the NHL alongside the veteran defender.
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