Radko Gudas: Anaheim Ducks’ New Captain After Two Seasons Without One

The Anaheim Ducks have ushered in a new era of leadership, announcing Radko Gudas as the team’s first captain since the retirement of Ryan Getzlaf two years ago. This significant announcement was made on the inaugural day of their training camp.

“I’m incredibly excited that my teammates see me as a leader,” said Gudas. “My goal is to lead by example and support my teammates in every possible way. It’s an honor to be trusted with this role, and I aim to be the person they need me to be.”

Meet the Ducks’ New Leader: Radko Gudas

At 34, Gudas is a seasoned player who joined the Ducks last year as a free agent. His performance last season – with 6 goals, 12 assists, and 128 penalty minutes – proved his worth as a veteran leader for the Ducks’ youthful talent pool. As the ninth captain in Ducks history, he is the first European to hold the position since Teemu Selanne, who co-captained with Paul Kariya in the 1997-98 season.

The Ducks had been without a captain since Getzlaf’s retirement, a first in the team’s history. Getzlaf had been a pillar of leadership for the team for 12 seasons since 2010, making him the longest-serving captain in Ducks history.

A New Era of Leadership for the Ducks

The team had been led by a string of alternate captains over the past two seasons, with veteran defenseman Cam Fowler as the most notable among them. However, Gudas’ appointment by Pat Verbeek, the general manager, and Greg Cronin, the second-year head coach, signifies a return to a more conventional leadership structure. This move comes as the Ducks strive to end their longest ever playoff drought, which spans six consecutive seasons.

“Radko personifies the relentless mentality our team needs,” said Cronin. “He is an intimidating player on the field, and off the field, he is just a good, kind-hearted guy.”

Radko Gudas: A Journey to Leadership

The Ducks are the fifth NHL team for Gudas, who crossed the Atlantic as a teenager. He also bagged a gold medal with the Czech Republic at the world championships in the summer. Initially, he was known as a pugnacious defenseman with Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, often drawing criticism and scrutiny from the league and opponents alike for his contentious hits.

Gudas has since evolved in his NHL journey, with stints in Washington and Florida before joining the Ducks. “I’ve learned from my mistakes and grown as a player and a person, thanks to the great leaders I’ve been surrounded by,” Gudas reflected.

The Ducks, who finished last season seventh in the Pacific Division after suffering a franchise-record 50 regulation losses, haven’t ranked higher than sixth in the division since their last playoff appearance in 2018. Gudas now joins the ranks of Czech players like Peter Stastny, Jaromir Jagr, Patrik Elias, Bobby Holik, and Milan Hejduk who have captained NHL teams.

The Ducks are set to kick off the regular season against San Jose on October 12, with their first home game slated for October 16 against Utah.