Ducks’ Radko Gudas suspended 5 games for kneeing Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews

Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas has been issued a five-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety, after delivering a knee-on-knee hit to Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews during Thursday’s game.

Thursday night in Toronto, Ducks defenceman Radko Gudas was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for kneeing Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, causing an injury. As the video shows, Matthews get a pass from a teammate in front of the Ducks’ goal, with Gudas skating back towards the slot with speed to defend against the scoring chance. In an attempt to make a defensive play on Matthews, Gudas leads with his knee, jutting it forward and making forceful, direct contact with Matthews, causing him to fall to the ice. This is kneeing.

It is important to note that Gudas is in control of this play. We acknowledge Gudas’ assertion that he is attempting to make a full body check and prevent a goal, but this play cannot be excused as a play in which evasive or sudden movements by either player are the primary cause of the knee-on-knee contact. If he wants to deliver this hit, the onus is on Gudas to ensure that he makes an approach to deliver a legal, full body check. Instead, having led with an extended knee and now finding himself lined up outside of Matthews’ core, Gudas leans towards contact with Matthews in a way that results in a forceful, dangerous and direct knee-on-knee collision.

To summarize, this is kneeing. Matthews suffered an injury on the play. Gudas has been suspended four times previously in his 881 NHL game career, with his last suspension occurring over seven years ago.

It’s a crushing loss for the Maple Leafs, as Matthews is the team’s franchise player in the prime of his career.

Several Maple Leafs stated that Gudas delivered a dirty hit, post-game.

“I didn’t like it. I thought it was dirty. I think the referees made the call, reviewed it and to me made the right call,” Maple Leafs forward John Tavares said post-game. “I think we responded well with taking advantage of the opportunity that we had. Certainly, we hope he is alright, I haven’t seen him since, but obviously, if he doesn’t come back there’s some concern because I know how tough he is and how committed he is to taking care of himself.

“Obviously saw him down in pain,” Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies said post-game. “You know the player: he’s done that quite often. I think it should be looked at. It’s our best player going down. It’s gotta be taken by the league here.”

Matthews’ agent, Judd Moldaver released a statement via The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, expressing his disappointment over the length of the suspension:

Auston Matthews’ agent, Judd Moldaver, calls the five-game suspension given to Radko Gudas by @NHLPlayerSafety “laughable and preposterous” when asked for comment:

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