- Florida acquired the signing rights to Radko Gudas from Anaheim for the rights to A.J. Greer
- Gudas returns to the Panthers, where he reached the 2023 Stanley Cup Final
- Read below for what the move means for Florida’s blue line before free agency
The Panthers are getting their teeth back.
Florida acquired the signing rights to defenseman Radko Gudas from the Anaheim Ducks on Monday, sending the rights to forward A.J. Greer the other way. The team confirmed the swap:
Both players can become unrestricted free agents Wednesday, so the trade hands Florida an exclusive window to re-sign Gudas before he hits the open market. Anaheim gets that same head start on Greer.
For Gudas, this is a homecoming. The 36-year-old spent three seasons in Florida from 2020 to 2023 and helped the team reach the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, a five-game loss to Vegas. He left for Anaheim that summer and was named the ninth captain in Ducks history in September 2024.
Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek thanked the veteran on his way out.
“Radko Gudas captained our club with heart and soul over the last two seasons while making a great impact in our community. We offer our thanks and wish him great success going forward.”
Gudas put up 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 56 games for Anaheim last season. Across 885 NHL games with Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Washington, Florida and Anaheim, he has 211 points and a reputation as one of the most physical blueliners in the sport.
Florida missed the playoffs this year, finishing 40-38-4 and seventh in the Atlantic after winning back-to-back Cups. The front office has spent the summer adding edge. Florida landed Brady Tkachuk eight days ago and grabbed Garnet Hathaway before that.
Sign Gudas and Florida gets back a defenseman who already knows what a deep run in South Florida feels like. In an Atlantic Division that runs through Toronto and Tampa, a meaner blue line is exactly the kind of reload the Panthers were after.
