NHL Player Safety Hands Down “Laughable” Suspension to Radko Gudas

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Auston Matthews’ season is done for the Toronto Maple Leafs. But the man who knocked him out for the year with a violent, illegal knee-on-knee hit, Radko Gudas, will be back before you know it. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has handed down a five-game suspension to Gudas. And Matthews’ agent doesn’t like it one bit.

Anaheim’s Radko Gudas has been suspended for five games for kneeing Toronto’s Auston Matthews. https://t.co/jBq3cksIMt

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 14, 2026

Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear from the collision, which left him writhing in pain on the ice. His agent, Judd Moldaver, was pretty clear about how he felt about the league’s decision to suspend the multi-time offender only five games.

Asked Auston Matthews’ agent, Judd Moldaver about his response to the ruling.

Here is his reply:

“In light of the obvious severity of the play, I am disappointed and shocked the league would allow such a ruling. A phone hearing and 5 games is laughable and preposterous.

While…

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 14, 2026

Matthews’ agent erupts after light ruling on Gudas​

“In light of the obvious severity of the play, I am disappointed and shocked the league would allow such a ruling.

A phone hearing and 5 games is laughable and preposterous.

While the process is set in our CBA, that this was the discipline is reckless and ridiculous. This decision results in a further loss of confidence in the disciplinary process for all players. Players and fans deserve better. The Player Safety Department should be suspended.”

Gudas has been suspended four previous times by the NHL for violent hits, which have resulted in injuries. He received a 3-gamer for a headshot in 2015; a 6-game suspension for “interference” in 2016; a whopping 10-game ban for a slash to Mathieu Perreault’s neck in 2017; and a 2-gamer for high-sticking Nikita Kucherov in 2019.

The reaction all around the hockey world is pretty unanimous that this five-game suspension is a joke… “Laughable”, as Matthews’ agent so aptly put it.

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