More than many in the Edmonton market have been banging the drum for burly defenceman Radko Gudas to one day play on the Oilers.
And it’s always made a ton of sense. He’s a big, strong, in-your-face type of defenceman who has had positive impacts on-ice for years.
Your prototypical third-pairing defenceman who can slide up the lineup when needed, he’s just the kind of guy the Oilers have needed for some time.
But it turns out that the idea of playing in Canada, namely for the Edmonton Oilers, has never been something appealing to him.
In an interview with Czech outlet DenikSport, Gudas said that multiple Canadian teams — the Oilers, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs — all reached out about his services with him being a free agent this offseason.
In an interview with @DenikSport, Radko Gudas said that he received offers from CGY & EDM & TOR. But he didn't want to play in Canada, especially in Toronto. He said the media pressure in the playoffs was crazy. He felt it even though he only played for Florida & not Toronto.
— Andy & Rono (@ARHockeyStats) August 2, 2023
Gudas would go on to sign a three-year, $4-million deal with the Anaheim Ducks that provides the 33-year-old a full no-trade clause in his first year with the club. In years two and three, he has a modified no-trade clause that allows him to select 16 teams, then 10 teams which he wouldn’t want to be dealt too.
It’s safe to say that if Gudas didn’t have interest in signing with a Canadian club in Edmonton, Calgary or Toronto this past offseason, he more likely than not will be willing to accept a trade here over the next three seasons.
Drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning 66th overall in the 2010 draft, Gudas spent three years there between 2012 and 2015 before stints with the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Captials. The past three years, he played with the Florida Panthers appearing in 203 games scoring seven goals and 44 points.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
