Radko Gudas, now back with the Florida Panthers, returns to Anaheim tonight where he spent three seasons, became team captain and mentored many of the younger players on the much-improved Ducks.
Anaheim, after not making the playoffs for seven seasons, finished third in the Pacific Division last year and upset Edmonton in the first round before bowing to Vegas in six.
Gudas has always been one of those players you love to hate but would like him on your team. His physical style is intimidating.
When Bill Zito first signed him as a free agent for the 2021 season, Gudas’ reputation was less than sterling. He had already served four suspensions for a total of 21 days.
He cleaned up his act considerably when he reached Florida and has not served a suspension since.
Do not think for a moment, however, that he has gone soft.
When he joined the Panthers for his first tour, he was part of the equation to make the team tougher and more difficult to play against. He was an integral part of the team that built itself into a Stanley Cup Finalist in 2022-23.
He would have loved to remain and Zito would have liked to keep him, but the cap strapped Panthers could not match his deal with Anaheim.
This season, he returns to Florida where he will happily wind down his career with a team friendly contract.
Like so many bruisers out there, his off-ice persona is totally opposite his playing style. He is still the same affable Gudas, just a bit grayer in the beard.
“I’m happy to be back,’’ Gudas said after Florida’s practice at the Ducks’ facility in Irvine on Saturday.
”Familiar territory. Excited for the game tomorrow. A lot of memories here.”
Gudas took a lot of pride in his leadership role with the improved Ducks,
“It was a tremendous honor being able to speak for the organization or speak for the team or represent them in certain situations,’’ he said. “It was really one of the greatest honors of my career. I’m really happy they thought of me this way.
“Hopefully I left some positive nodes behind, and the guys think of me well. They did some pranks on me today before the skate here, so I think I left some nodes here. I was just grateful to have this opportunity and have those guys around me and help me the last few years to lead this team. Really fun times.”
As for the pranks, Gudas explained that when he got to the visitors’ room before practice, he found his skates tied and a cup of water in his helmet, among other greetings.
“Just the little things that make it more fun,’’ Gudas said. “I’m pretty sure I know who did it, too.”
Gudas knows that the Panthers will not be playing against the team that had been league doormats for so long.
They learned this last year when they lost both meetings to the improved Ducks. From 2019-25, the Panthers owned the lowly Ducks with a 9-1-0 record.
Under new coach Joel Quenneville last season, the team definitely established a new identity.
Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson are rising stars.
Troy Terry (injured) is an established star. Sophomore Beckett Sennecke impressed last season and was a standout in the playoffs. They lost toughness with the departure of Gudas and Jacob Trouba, but they gained some back with the signing of old friend A.J. Greer.
“The whole time here for me was very special,” Gudas continued. “The way that they treated me was something that was close to my heart. I really enjoyed my three years here. I tried to make the best of it while I was here. I tried to give the organization and the city as much as I could give…”
Anaheim teammate Alex Killorn has known Gudas for a long time, going back to their days in the AHL and with the Lightning. He spoke about what Gudas meant to the Ducks.
“He was huge. The captain for our group, going through a rebuild,’’ Killorn said. “We took massive strides under his leadership. Just a great guy. Very well-liked in the locker room and also in the community so we’re excited to see him back.”
The obligatory video tribute should be interesting.
ON DECK: GAME No. 3
FLORIDA PANTHERS at ANAHEIM DUCKS