Speculation: Where does Gudas go, and what does he get?

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Radko Gudas is an interesting player to me because the cap is going to be flat and cap space is limited and Radko is not a star so it will be interesting to see what kind of market there is for him, because with a flat cap a lot of players are either going to bad teams that can overpay them or, they are going to get deals that are less than they expected due to the flat cap.

Gudas is one of those players where do you think he goes? does a team like Detroit or NJ overpay him? or does he take less for a chance to win?

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[Skinnyjimmy08]

ALOT of teams will want him

He will definately have his choice of teams. Unsure who will overpay, but someone will

 

[Unbiased Fan]

Toronto to play with Sandin would be nice. Can they make it work? Doubt it.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Toronto to play with Sandin would be nice. Can they make it work? Doubt it.

That would be a start but not enough

 

[Gurglesons]

I could see him going to Winnipeg or Edmonton TBH.

3-3.5 mil.

 

[Unbiased Fan]

That would be a start but not enough

What do you mean? I’m not saying he’d win a cup for the leafs but he’d be an ideal partner for him.

 

[Samus44]

I could see him going to Winnipeg or Edmonton TBH.

3-3.5 mil.

I'd be shocked if he went to Edmonton despite the fact I'd be happy to add him on merit. The reality is he doesn't fit as the team has Bear, Larsson, and likely Bouchard on the right side. On top of that Green resigning is possible and the team still has Benning under control and the option of playing Jones, a strong prospect who's establishing himself as a realistic top 4 option in the years to come. Also Larsson and him bring duplicating skillsets. Despite the fact he'd make the team stronger the cost of signing him is prohibitive given he isn't the top pairing D we need to justify holding a potnential solution in Bouchard back. Basically with Bear and Bouchard both having a chance to become a bonafide and proven top pairing RHD in the next couple seasons, a lack of capspace, internal options to fill out the roster, and Larsson being very capable of playing top 4 I don't see a fit.

 

[Samus44]

What do you mean? I’m not saying he’d win a cup for the leafs but he’d be an ideal partner for him.

I know what he means as they still need a top pairing righty but given the cap constraints and scarcity of that player he'd likely be as perfect a fit there as they could get. Brings a much needed edge and being a RH shot to compliment the leftorium of Reilly, Muzzin, Sandin, and Dermott.

 

[Gurglesons]

I'd be shocked if he went to Edmonton despite the fact I'd be happy to add him on merit. The reality is he doesn't fit as the team has Bear, Larsson, and likely Bouchard on the right side. On top of that Green resigning is possible and the team still has Benning under control and the option of playing Jones, a strong prospect who's establishing himself as a realistic top 4 option in the years to come. Also Larsson and him bring duplicating skillsets. Despite the fact he'd make the team stronger the cost of signing him is prohibitive given he isn't the top pairing D we need to justify holding a potnential solution in Bouchard back. Basically with Bear and Bouchard both having a chance to become a bonafide and proven top pairing RHD in the next couple seasons, a lack of capspace, internal options to fill out the roster, and Larsson being very capable of playing top 4 I don't see a fit.

Larson and Gudas are very different players. And I assume they’d bring in Gudas for that very reason.

 

[Samus44]

Larson and Gudas are very different players. And I assume they’d bring in Gudas for that very reason.

How so? Please explain to me what you think Gudas and Larsson do well, how they differ, and the roles they fill. I'm genuinely curious.

 

[untouchable21]

I could see him going to Winnipeg or Edmonton TBH.

3-3.5 mil.

I would hope the Jets would inquire as he brings an element that they are lacking.

 

[themelkman]

Toronto seems like a major fit. They would probably need to move one of the mid sixers they have out though to make cap space. He probably gets 3.5-4 mil for 4 years

 

[Gurglesons]

How so? Please explain to me what you think Gudas and Larsson do well, how they differ, and the roles they fill. I'm genuinely curious.

Gudas plays a big bodied, physical game and can beat the shit out of people / throw borderline hits. AKA protect McDavid while being an effective NHLer unlike Lucic.

 

[Samus44]

Gudas plays a big bodied, physical game and can beat the shit out of people / throw borderline hits. AKA protect McDavid while being an effective NHLer unlike Lucic.

So he's like Larsson but a bit dirtier. Exactly what I thought and implied. Nurse and Kassian are more than adequate as body guards btw, the Oilers are far from soft.

 

[Gurglesons]

So he's like Larsson but a bit dirtier. Exactly what I thought and implied. Nurse and Kassian are more than adequate as body guards btw, the Oilers are far from soft.

I wonder if Larsson would still be in the league if he fought Deslauriers.

Comparing Larsson to Gudas is hilarious.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

What do you mean? I’m not saying he’d win a cup for the leafs but he’d be an ideal partner for him.

I mean what I said, he'd be a start but he's not enough. Now now if you were to swing a trade for say David, Savard, or Adam Larsson, or Josh Manson, or Risto, or somebody else and THEN signed Gudas that's different because then you have upgraded 2 pairs byt Gudas by himself isn't enough you need that 2nd guy.

It's not easy but it is doable because the Leafs have enough depth at forward that they can send out a couple guys and not even really suffer.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Toronto seems like a major fit. They would probably need to move one of the mid sixers they have out though to make cap space. He probably gets 3.5-4 mil for 4 years

That's expected anyway

 

[Ctrain2k]

Gudas plays a big bodied, physical game and can beat the shit out of people / throw borderline hits. AKA protect McDavid while being an effective NHLer unlike Lucic.

Larsson’s one of the most physical Dman in the league.

 

[Gurglesons]

Larsson’s one of the most physical Dman in the league.

Here's how I see it. Larsson and Gudas is like comparing Hornqvist and Tom Wilson.

 

[Rich Nixon]

Gudas isn't as bad as some people think he is and he's also not as "actually not as bad as some people think he is" as people think he is, if that makes sense.

What I'm saying is, anyone giving him 4 years times $4 million is going to get rightly dragged for it by year two. Especially with the cap looking like it'll be flat for a season or two, he's just not gonna bring enough to play any real meaningful time in the top 4 and he's not solid enough to be a set-it-and-forget-it guy on the 3rd pair where you could maybe, maybe justify laying that money down. He might pull a number like that, and it'll be dumb.

His prior minutes were inflated by playing on a Flyers team with a bad coach and a pretty bad/uneven defense. He's a black hole up there at the point, weak shots to the logo or turnovers. No vision. Yes, he gets some points when his knuckleball wristers hit teammates in front, but he really kills more possessions than he prolongs. Sound positionally in his own zone, but prone to colossal lapses in judgment with the puck or with other players' safety.

He's a name and he does some good things, but people will pay more for the familiarity than the actual contributions I think.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Id love to see him on TO. Would be a great signing by Dubas if he could make that work

 

[txpd]

On a decent team Gudas is a 3rd pair specialist. He should be paid accordingly. The Caps were scratching him when the season was suspended and he was not expected to play without and injury creating an opening.

 

[Magic Mittens]

I could see Dallas going after him to replace Polak on the 3rd pair

 

[Mickey Marner]

I'd take him on the Leafs as a one or two year stop gap for 2-2.5.

 

[SupremeTeam16]

Gudas plays a big bodied, physical game and can beat the shit out of people / throw borderline hits. AKA protect McDavid while being an effective NHLer unlike Lucic.

Larsson plays that exact type of game. He’s absolutely brutal to play against in the corners and in front of the net. Eats big minutes in his own end, matches up against the other teams best comp and is a stalwart on the pk.

the Oilers have plenty of guys to “protect” McDavid. Nurse, Kassian, Khaira can all get the job done if somebody needs to be tuned up.


Gudas is not a player the Oilers should target with their limited cap space and I’d be astonished if his name even came up for them let alone they actually signed him.