The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced Friday that Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas has been suspended five games for kneeing Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews during their game Thursday night.
Radko Gudas has been suspended for five games for kneeing Auston Matthews. pic.twitter.com/VHzjYVEJfD
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 14, 2026
Gudas forfeits $104,166.65 in salary, which will be directed to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. He will sit out contests against Ottawa, Montreal, Philadelphia, Utah, and Buffalo. Gudas is eligible to return to the Ducks' lineup on March 24 against the Vancouver Canucks.
The ruling sparked immediate backlash from the Matthews camp. His agent, Judd Moldaver, released a scathing statement calling the five-game ban "laughable and preposterous" given the severity of the injury.
"This decision results in a further loss of confidence in the disciplinary process for all players... The Player Safety Department should be suspended," Moldaver stated.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube also condemned the play as "dirty," while Ducks coach Joel Quenneville defended Gudas, claiming the contact was a "reflex action" with no premeditation.
This marks the fifth suspension of Gudas' 14-year career. Notably, this is his second high-profile incident involving a star player in less than a month; Gudas was also involved in the play that knocked Canada's Sidney Crosby out of the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.
