Anaheim defenceman Radko Gudas was given a five-game suspension by the NHL on Friday for kneeing and injuring Toronto’s Auston Matthews.
Gudas had a hearing with the league’s department of player safety for his hit that injured the Maple Leafs captain in a game on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena.
The five-game ban was the maximum that could be levied because his hearing was by phone.
Auston Matthews' agent, Judd Moldaver, calls the five-game suspension given to Radko Gudas by @NHLPlayerSafety "laughable and preposterous" when asked for comment: pic.twitter.com/c5GsAaNwAG
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 14, 2026
The knee-on-knee hit occurred at 15:47 of the second period of the Ducks’ 6-4 loss. Gudas received a major penalty and game misconduct on the play, which resulted in Matthews exiting the game with a left leg injury.
Radko Gudas goes knee-on-knee with Auston Matthews. Gudas received a minute major pending review. Auston Matthews was down for a while but has gotten back to his feet. pic.twitter.com/Rxf6xIe1GH
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 13, 2026
The Maple Leafs confirmed Friday that Matthews would miss the rest of the season with a Grade 3 tear of his medial collateral ligament. He also suffered a bruised quadriceps muscle.
Gudas will forfeit US$104,166.65 in salary. The money goes to the players’ emergency assistance fund.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2026.
