Radko Gudas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Radko Gudas
Gudas with the Tampa Bay Lightning in October 2013
Born	(1990-06-05) 5 June 1990 (age 33) Kladno, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	204 lb (93 kg; 14 st 8 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Anaheim Ducks Rabat Kladno Tampa Bay Lightning Philadelphia Flyers Washington Capitals Florida Panthers
National team	Czech Republic
NHL Draft	66th overall, 2010 Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career	2008–present

Radko Gudas (born 5 June 1990) is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman for the Anaheim Ducks in the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers the Washington Capitals, and the Florida Panthers.

The son of Leo Gudas, who competed for Czechoslovakia at the 1992 Winter Olympics, Gudas was raised in Kladno, and played for HC Rabat Kladno. He moved to North America in 2009, spending one season with the Everett Silvertips of the major junior Western Hockey League before the Tampa Bay Lightning selected him 66th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Internationally Gudas played for the Czech Republic national junior team at two World Junior Championships and for the senior team at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Playing career

Junior

Gudas played in the Czech Extraliga with HC Kladno during the 2008–09 season. Gudas was selected by the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the first round of the CHL Import Draft with the 20th pick. After going un-drafted in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Gudas was invited to the Los Angeles Kings training camp that year but was not offered a contract. He then joined the Silvertips that fall. He had a strong season with the Silvertips, posting 7 goals, 30 assists, and 151 penalty minutes. His play for the Silvertips paid off when he was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft with their 3rd-round draft pick. Gudas participated in the 2010 Lightning developmental camp that ran from 10–14 July. On 8 August 2010, the Lightning announced they had signed Gudas to a three-year entry-level contract.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Gudas participated in first NHL training camp in 2010 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Gudas was reassigned to Tampa Bay's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. Gudas showed a desire to lay big hits on his opposition, along with an extensive fight card in his rookie season. In total Gudas dropped the gloves 16 times, and amassed 165 penalty minutes in 76 games for the Admirals. His point totals for that season were 4 goals and 13 assists.

He spent the entire 2011–12 season in the AHL with the Admirals, and during this season Admirals set a professional hockey record by winning 28 consecutive games. Gudas helped lead the Admiral blue-line, along with fellow Lightning prospect Mark Barberio, to the 2012 Calder Cup championship in a four-game sweep of the Toronto Marlies.

Admirals and Lightning fans had been aware of Gudas' ability to grow a great beard, which he was noted for during the Admirals' playoff run. It has been a signature look of his since then.

Following the dream season for the Admirals, the Lightning ended their affiliation with Norfolk and entered into a multi-year affiliation with the Syracuse Crunch. Gudas was assigned to the Crunch for the 2012–13 AHL season. Gudas was recalled by the Lightning on 11 March 2013. Prior to being recalled he had 4 goals and 20 points for the Crunch, at the time leading the AHL with a plus/minus rating of plus-32. He was also fourth in the league with 207 penalty minutes.

Gudas played his first NHL game against the Florida Panthers. Gudas posted three blocked shots, and two hits in 15:20 of playtime. During this game Gudas went to lay a hit on Panthers forward Kris Versteeg, who attempted to avoid the hit, but still collided with him. Versteeg wound up leaving the game with what appeared to be a right leg injury. It was revealed two days later that Versteeg would need to undergo season-ending knee surgery due to the collision. Gudas finished the remainder of the season with the Lightning, playing in 22 contests. He posted 2 goals, 3 assists, 38 penalty minutes and was a +3 in his first NHL season. Gudas rejoined the Crunch at the finish of the NHL regular season to help Syracuse Crunch in the 2013 Calder Cup playoffs. Gudas suffered a MCL injury during the Eastern Conference Championship series, and missed the first four games of the Calder Cup finals. The Crunch fell to the Grand Rapids Griffins to end Gudas' AHL career.

On Monday 6 May 2013, the Lightning announced they had signed Gudas to a 3-year contract extension.

Gudas was thrust into a top-4 role on defense for the season, with Eric Brewer being moved to a more manageable 3rd pair role. Gudas continued to play his physical game. Gudas finished his first full NHL season by playing three games in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the Lightning in a 4 game sweep by the Montreal Canadiens.

In the 2014–15 season, on 6 January 2015, Gudas underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. The Lightning announced that he would be out for the remainder of the regular season.

Philadelphia Flyers

On 2 March 2015, at the trade deadline Gudas was traded by the Lightning along with a first and third-round selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Braydon Coburn.

Gudas was suspended for three games on 2 December 2015, for an illegal check to the head of Mika Zibanejad during a 4–2 win against the Ottawa Senators the night before. He was not assessed a penalty for the hit during the game, though Zibanejad left the game.

Gudas signed a four-year contract with the Flyers worth $13.4 million on 23 June 2016.

In an 8 October 2016, preseason game against the Boston Bruins, Gudas delivered an interfering hit on Austin Czarnik, who left the game and soon underwent concussion protocol. While Gudas was assessed a minor penalty for boarding during the game, upon review of the incident, the NHL Department of Player Safety eventually suspended Gudas for six games, in part because of his previous suspension in 2015.

Washington Capitals

On 14 June 2019, Gudas was traded from the Flyers to the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenceman Matt Niskanen.

Florida Panthers

As a free agent from the Capitals, Gudas signed on the opening day of free agency to remain in the Eastern Conference in signing a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Florida Panthers on 9 October 2020.

Anaheim Ducks

On 1 July 2023, Gudas signed as a free agent to a three-year, $12 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks.

International play

Gudas at the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship.

On 6 January 2014, Radko Gudas was named to the Czech Republic men's national ice hockey team with teammate Ondřej Palát for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Gudas would miss two games in the Olympics due to an apparent illness. He would appear in 3 games and record 4 penalty minutes during his first Olympics. The Czech Team were eliminated at the hands of Team USA.

Personal life

Gudas and his girlfriend have a daughter together. Gudas' sister, actress and singer Karolina Gudasová, is married to former teammate Michal Neuvirth.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International