The Florida Panthers have signed defenseman Radko Gudas to a six-year, $1.5 million contract.
The Florida Panthers and Radko Gudas have come to a contract agreement with less than an hour before entering free agency.
Gudas is signing a six-year, $1.5 million contract with the Panthers, returning after playing three seasons with the organization from 2020 to 2023. In his time with the Panthers, Gudas scored seven goals and 44 points in 203 games.
Since leaving the Panthers organization, Gudas served as the captain of the Anaheim Ducks for two of his three years in Anaheim.
On Monday, the Panthers completed a trade to send A.J. Greer to the Ducks for Gudas. Both players were pending UFAs, allowing each team extra time to discuss contracts before becoming eligible to sign with any other NHL team.
The 36-year-old Gudas is a physical defenseman who will likely play on the Panthers’ third pairing alongside Dmitry Kulikov.
When Gudas’ contract expires, he’ll be 42 years old. Gudas has already played 885 career NHL games, and with his physical brand of hockey, it would be quite the accomplishment to see Gudas play out the totality of his contract.
Nonetheless, the Panthers add a gritty defenseman who will be a thorn in the side of his opponents, like most Panthers players are.
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