Ducks sign Radko Gudas to 3-year, $12 million deal, per reports: Why Anaheim is adding blueliner

The Anaheim Ducks are signing free-agent defenseman Radko Gudas to a three-year contract, according to multiple reports. Here’s what you need to know:

The deal reportedly carries an average annual value of $4 million.
Gudas, 33, had 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 72 games with the Florida Panthers last season.
He recorded the second-most hits in the NHL last season with 312, sitting behind the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Luke Schenn’s 318.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

Why did the Ducks do this?

To put it plainly, Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek needed serious help on his blue line. The only returning regulars were Cam Fowler and Jamie Drysdale, the former that was leaned on entirely too much and the latter coming off a lost 2022-23 season due to a shoulder injury. Interest in retaining veteran Kevin Shattenkirk felt meager at best.

Gudas, 33, felt like a prime target for Verbeek once free agency began. He’s got some miles on him, but he is still a tough customer on the back end and will give the Ducks an experienced physical presence that’s been sorely lacking. Anyone that watched the Stanley Cup playoffs can see that Gudas still has plenty of game as he played a large role in Florida’s surprising run to the final. He can defend, he can kill penalties and he’s been long known as an excellent teammate. The Ducks need all that. — Stephens

Who could Gudas play with?

New coach Greg Cronin, who figures to put in a system that will focus on puck possession and limiting shots against, will welcome the hard-hitting Gudas that has solid defensive metrics. Where he will play him in the lineup is more up in the air as he goes about constructing his first Anaheim lineup. The right-shooting Drysdale is in place as a top-four offensive option on the blue line. Gudas probably works best as a strong third-pairing performer that can give you 17-18 good minutes. But with how bad the Ducks were defensively, will they have to play him higher in the lineup?

I wouldn’t rule out Gudas stepping up and playing with Fowler to give Anaheim an experienced duo and lessen some of the defensive load on Fowler so that he can be free to not worry as much when he joins the rush. Or he could complement a left-shooting rookie if either talented prospects Olen Zellweger or Pavel Mintyukov make the club out of camp. (Think of Gudas as the heavy to protect the diminutive Zellweger). — Stephens

Backstory

Gudas is a rugged defensive defender and exactly what a team wants and needs on their third pair come playoff time. He’s appeared in four straight postseasons with the Washington Capitals (2019-20) and the Panthers (from 2020-21 through 2022-23). He’s tallied 182 hits and nine points during that playoff stretch, including 91 hits in Florida’s postseason run this summer. The Panthers lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

Around the 2022-23 trade deadline, Gudas stated his desire to end his NHL career with the Panthers. He signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the franchise in October 2020.

The veteran started his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2012 and has also played for the Philadelphia Flyers.