SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Zito announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Radko Gudas on a six-year contract commencing in 2026-27.
“Radko is a proven, experienced leader and a strong reliable defensive presence for our blueline,” said Zito. “He is keenly familiar with our team, having been a big part of our first run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023, and we are thrilled to welcome Radko and his family back to South Florida.”
Gudas, 36, skated in 56 games with the Anaheim Ducks in 2025-26, logging 13 points (2-11-13) and leading the Ducks blueliners with 164 hits.
The 6-foot, 208-pound native of Prague, Czechia has skated in 885 career NHL games between Anaheim (2023-24 to 2025-26), Florida (2020-21 to 2022-23), the Washington Capitals (2019-20), Philadelphia Flyers (2015-16 to 2018-19) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2012-13 to 2014-15), registering 211 points (42-169-211), a plus-89 rating and 1,124 penalty minutes. Since his first full NHL season in 2013-14, Gudas leads all NHLers with 3,135 hits.
Previously with the Panthers from 2020-21 to 2022-23, Gudas compiled 44 points (7-37-44) and a plus-47 rating in 203 regular season games while recording 917 hits, which still stand as the third-most hits in Panthers history since hits began being tracked in 2007-08. He also posted seven points (1-6-7) over 37 Stanley Cup Playoff games with Florida, helping the club capture a Presidents’ Trophy in 2021-22 and reach the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. He led all NHLers in hits in his first two season in South Florida, posting 250 in 2020-21 and 355 in 2021-22.
Gudas skated in 206 American Hockey League (AHL) games between the Syracuse Crunch (2012-13) and Norfolk Admirals (2010-11 to 2011-12), producing 57 points (15-42-57). He helped Norfolk capture a Calder Cup championship in 2011-12 and was named to the AHL All-Star Game in 2012-13.
On the international stage, Gudas earned a gold medal representing Czechia at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, where he was voted a top three player on his team and served as an alternate captain. He was also an alternate captain for Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina.
Gudas was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the third round (66th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft.
2026-27 Florida Panthers Territory Memberships are available now! Click here to learn more. For all the latest in Panthers news, concerts and events at Amerant Bank Arena & FTL War Memorial, sign up for '93 Society newsletter and receive information straight to your inbox. Visit FloridaPanthers.com or SeatGeek.com for all ticketing needs.
