Gudas gets warm ovation in return to Anaheim with Panthers

Anaheim Ducks fans cheered Radko Gudas during his return to Honda Center with the Florida Panthers on Sunday, Oct. 4. A video shown during a stoppage recognized the defenceman's three seasons with Anaheim.

His former teammates had already welcomed him in their own way. At the Ducks' practice facility on Saturday, Gudas found his skate laces knotted tight and a cup of water balanced inside his helmet.

"Just the little things that make it a little more fun," Gudas said. "I'm pretty sure I know who did it too."

Gudas captained Anaheim last season before returning to Florida, where he played from 2020 to 2023. "Definitely a bit strange," he said before the game. "I had the orange on a couple months ago."

Defenceman Jackson LaCombe, who was paired with Gudas during his first season in Anaheim, credited the veteran with helping him manage the game. "A guy like that's rare, for sure," LaCombe said.

Gudas has been suspended five times by the NHL, most recently for five games for kneeing Toronto's Auston Matthews on March 12. Florida coach Paul Maurice said: "90 percent, 95 percent of his game, he's just a good veteran defenseman that reads the play really well."

Florida played without captain Aleksander Barkov, who was placed on long-term injured reserve Saturday and was scheduled to see team doctors Monday. Gustav Forsling played after being a game-time decision, and Brad Marchand made his season debut following offseason surgery.