Anaheim Ducks Add Solid D-Man In Free Agency

Call it a hair-raising signing if you will, but the Anaheim Ducks have signed Radko Gudas, and his beard, to a three-year contract, to add a solid presence to their blueline.

Radko Gudas is signing a 3-year, $4m AAV contract with the Anaheim Ducks pic.twitter.com/BkTcjrvQ2D

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) July 1, 2023

It's a 3-year, $12M deal with a $4M AAV for the 33-year-old Czech rearguard, who has spent the past three seasons of his 11-year career with the Florida Panthers. 

Gudas getting $12M over three years is great for Radko and clearly more than Florida was willing to offer, both on term and dollars.

He will be missed in Sunrise.

— David Dwork (@DavidDwork) July 1, 2023

Gudas is a physical player and an imposing body guarding the net. He'll provide a great veteran presence for all the youngsters on the Ducks' roster.

There was a strong level of interest on the market for Gudas, but Ducks GM Pat Verbeek was clearly out to inject some grittiness, leadership and veteran championship saavy into the young roster, and bringing in a couple of solid veterans like Gudas on the backline and Alex Killorn up front, they've done that. 

Gudas won't provide much offense, normally coming in below 20 points on the season, but as a stay-at-home D-man, he won't be expected to. 

Photo: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports