- Radko Gudas is back with the Panthers and says a Stanley Cup is the only goal that matters
- He left Florida in 2023, one year before the franchise won back-to-back titles without him
- Read below for what Gudas said about his return and the roster Florida built around him
Radko Gudas left Florida at the wrong moment. He is not planning to make that mistake again.
The Butcher is back with the Panthers, and the 36-year-old defenseman made it clear Friday that he returned for one reason. Gudas spoke to the media for the first time since Florida reacquired him, and he did not dance around what he is chasing.
“I’m really thrilled to join them again, exactly, for the ultimate goal,” Gudas said. “The goal is 100 percent set and we’re just looking for this one cherry on the top. I would love nothing more than to help the guys with the ultimate goal.”
Watch Gudas talk about the return:
Gudas knows this building. He spent three seasons in Florida from 2020 to 2023 and helped lay the foundation for what the Panthers became.
Then he walked. Gudas signed with Anaheim on July 1, 2023, weeks after Florida lost to Vegas in the Cup Final. The Panthers went on to win it all in 2024 and again in 2025. He watched both from the outside.
Gudas said the front office reached out early, and the pitch from general manager Bill Zito and coach Paul Maurice sold him on coming home.
“Seeing their success, seeing them getting built and seeing them playing with more mojo and being the team to beat, it’s awesome to see,” Gudas said. “It helps you to motivate yourself to get even better.”
Florida acquired the veteran from the Ducks for forward A.J. Greer, then locked him up on a six-year deal. He is one of several familiar faces the Panthers pulled in this offseason as they retool after missing the playoffs last spring.
The Panthers announced the move earlier in the week:
They also landed Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa, brought back goalie Jacob Markstrom, and added Garnet Hathaway from Philadelphia. You can read the full breakdown of his six-year contract here.
Gudas turned 36 this summer with a single Cup Final on his resume. The two rings he really wants are the ones handed out while he was stuck in Anaheim.
