The Anaheim Ducks have signed defenseman Radko Gudas to a three-year contract worth an average annual value of $4 million.
Hockey's most glorious beard is headed to the West Coast.
The Anaheim Ducks made quite the splash on Saturday, agreeing to terms with defenseman Radko Gudas on a three-year contract worth an average annual value of $4 million.
The deal now takes the gritty defender off the market after he was certainly garnering quite the level of interest.
This is a major risk, though.
Gudas does a lot of things very well. The 33-year-old is one of the most physical players in the NHL and is a major net-front presence, throwing the body with the best of them and setting the tone in his own end on most nights. But Gudas also happened to get exposed defensively throughout the Panthers' run to the Stanley Cup final this postseason, struggling mightily to drive possession and getting outshot and outchanced at 5-on-5.
With just two goals and 15 assists for 17 points in 72 games last season, Gudas does not offer much offensive upside. And with his age and style of play, it's hard to see Gudas remaining healthy at this rate by the end of his new contract.
With a number of young prospects set to come into their own this season, the Ducks clearly value Gudas' veteran presence and were willing to pay for it. Whether it works out remains to be seen.