The Florida Panthers may have the chance to bring back a familiar face, Radko Gudas, if NHL Insider Kevin Weekes’ sources are correct about the free agency status of the Anaheim Ducks’ captain.
👀 Per sources, I’m told @AnaheimDucks Captain D Gudas is gaining interest in the marketplace. If him & Ducks can’t get a deal done, @FlaPanthers @MapleLeafs are among potential fits.He’s physical, experienced,
— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) June 19, 2026
playoff tested, on a 2-3Yr term between 3.5M-4M+AAV #HockeyX pic.twitter.com/llbpdidQNa
For the past three seasons, the 36-year-old has been patrolling the blue in Southern California, after spending three years with the Panthers, including the team’s run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
During his time in Florida, Gudas skated in the second-most games at 203, while leading the team with 917 hits and 314 blocks, while averaging 17:40 in ice time per game. Interestingly, he led the NHL in blocked shots by a significant margin, with Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk a distant second with 760.
Since relocating across the country, Gudas has dropped in the hits and blocks categories, collecting only 657 hits and making 420 blocks, good enough for 18th and 29th overall in the NHL. Meanwhile, the most physical player on the Panthers is Niko Mikkola with just 451 hits and 293 blocks.
As an alternate captain during his last skate with Florida, Gudas became captain of the Ducks in 2024-25 and has served in the role for the past two seasons. However, while Anaheim advanced to the second round of the most recent Stanley Cup playoffs, their captain appeared in only one game, a Game 1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on April 20.
The native of Prague, Czechia, has played 885 games in the NHL, scoring 42 goals and 211 points with five teams, including Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, and Washington. Since entering the league in 2011-12, his 3,222 hits rank second in the league behind recently retired Matt Martin, while his 1,575 blocks rank 17th.
Initially, a third-round pick, 66th overall, by Tampa Bay in the 2010 NHL Draft, Gudas made his NHL debut against Florida on Mar. 12, 2013, playing 15:20, collecting three hits and two blocked shots. He’s coming off a three-year deal with the Ducks that paid him $4 million annually.
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