This season, Anaheim Ducks captain and defenseman Radko Gudas has not looked close to the player he was last season, a reliable force on the backend who helped stabilize the play of then-rookie Jackson LaCombe as he navigated his first full season in the NHL. It’s been LaCombe doing the heavy lifting for that pair this season, as he’s blossomed into a “one-man breakout,” as teammate Alex Killorn put it.
The primary reason for Gudas’ struggles may have been found. On Friday morning, Robert Sára from Sport.cz reported that Gudas will undergo surgery after the conclusion of the Ducks’ 2024-25 season. At this time, it’s unclear what kind of injury has been hampering Gudas or when the injury occurred, but it’s been deemed severe enough to require surgery.
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Because of this, Gudas will not participate in the 2025 World Championships for Czechia, which will be defending the championship after winning gold in 2024 on home ice. “We were lucky in Prague that the guys were healthy, Czechia head coach Radim Rulík said (translated from Czech). “Now, most of them are injured.”
In February, Sport.cz reporters Jan Skvor and Martin Kezr wrote that Ducks goaltender Lukáš Dostál could be in contention for Czechia’s 2025 Worlds team. Dostál helped lead his country to gold in 2024, sporting a 6-2-0 record with a .939 SV% and three shutouts.
Apr 1, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) and goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) celebrate the victory against the San Jose Sharks following the shootout period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
However, Dostal will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season, and his representation will want his contract for 2025-26 nailed down before Worlds if he is to participate. He missed the 2023 Worlds due to a similar situation.
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“I can’t imagine Anaheim letting him get away,” Rulík said. “He’s their clear number one. I believe Anaheim will sign him and he’ll be under contract by the time of the championship.”
At 49 games, Dostál has already eclipsed his career-high game played total from last season (44). He will likely play more than 50 games this season, especially after John Gibson left Thursday’s game with a lower-body injury. Dostál, who started 11 of the first 13 games of the season while Gibson recovered from an appendectomy, currently has a record of 22-20-6 with a .905 SV% and 3.01 GAA.