Ducks make Gudas 9th captain in franchise history

The Anaheim Ducks named veteran defenseman Radko Gudas the ninth captain in franchise history Thursday.

Gudas is the first player to wear the "C" for the Ducks since Ryan Getzlaf retired at the end of the 2021-22 season.

"After taking time to assess our group over the last few seasons, Radko emerged as a natural leader who encompasses all of the qualities of a captain and the respect of his teammates, our staff, and his peers," general manager Pat Verbeek wrote in a statement. "With a young group of players establishing themselves in the NHL, we felt it was necessary to have a veteran lead our team.

"Radko exemplifies what it means to be a professional, how to carry yourself on and off the ice and in the community, and be a mentor to our young group that will become the next leaders of the team."

Gudas is under contract for two more seasons and carries a $4-million cap hit. He joined the Ducks as an unrestricted free agent in July 2023.

The 34-year-old appeared in 66 games during his first campaign in Anaheim, chipping in with six goals and 18 points while averaging 19:30 minutes of ice time and leading the team with 154 blocks, 232 hits, and 128 penalty minutes.

Gudas was also a plus-14 on a Ducks team that ranked 30th in the league with a minus-91 goal differential.

"I am honored to be named captain of the Anaheim Ducks and lead our team into an exciting era," he said. "The trust put in me by Pat, our management, coaches, and my teammates is something I take with pride. Leadership is a shared quality amongst our team, and I look forward to representing the Ducks on the ice and also outside of the rink in the community."

The first Czech captain in the NHL since Milan Hejduk in 2011-12, Gudas represented his country at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and took home a gold medal.

Gudas is about to enter his 13th NHL season. He's amassed 182 points in 748 career games split between the Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, and Ducks. His 2,797 hits rank ninth in NHL history.

The Bolts selected Gudas in the third round of the 2010 NHL Draft.

There are three NHL teams left without a captain ahead of the 2024-25 season: The Buffalo Sabres, Seattle Kraken, and Utah.