The Florida Panthers locked up defenseman Radko Gudas to a six-year deal with an annual cap hit of $1.5 million, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Gudas, 36, was set to hit free agency Wednesday. The Panthers acquired his rights in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.
The veteran defenseman previously spent three years in Florida from 2020-23. He was part of the Panthers squad that lost the 2023 Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights, but he left before the Panthers won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024-25.
Gudas is known for his physical play, which occasionally crosses the line. He's been suspended five times for a total of 26 games in his 14-year NHL career.
He projects to slot in on Florida's third defense pair alongisde Dmitry Kulikov.
