Washington Capitals: Radko Gudas doesn’t plan to return in 2020

Washington Capitals defenseman Radko Gudas recently had an interview with the Czech media.

Radko Gudas hit on a number of topics with writer Pavel Papiskar of Ceska Televize in the Czech Republic. Among them are if he thinks hockey will resume but the one glaring thing in the interview was what he said regarding whether or not he returns to the Washington Capitals. He doesn’t expect to.

Gudas believes that the NHL season shouldn’t continue with all the other hockey leagues canceling their seasons including most recently the AHL.

The following quotes from Gudas are translated from Czech to English by Diane Doyle of NoVa Caps.

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“I don’t think the season should be played at all when all the other hockey leagues in the world have cancelled their seasons. Hockey is probably the only team sport pushing it like that. They didn’t let us go to the Olympics for fear of injury, but now they want to continue the NHL season. If we continued to play, our sport would go a little against our natural rhythm. And while money makes the world go round, it is a bit sad that because of money, they are willing to risk the health of so many players,” said Gudas.

This season Gudas has two goals and 13 assists for 15 points including 75 blocks and 164 hits. His individual Corsi For percentage is 50.4 percent. The Capitals acquired Gudas last summer in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers for Matt Niskanen.

Gudas carried a cap hit of $2,345,000 and he enters the offseason, whenever that may be, as an unrestricted free agent. He is aware that the Caps may have other needs and that he may not be a part of those plans.

"“I don’t think there is a chance (of returning to Washington). They are already fighting against the salary cap. They have young players there and they will play under contracts that will definitely be more acceptable to them. I think the players whose contracts expire after this season will leave Washington.”"

As an unrestricted free agent, Gudas can pretty much walk and sign wherever he wants and not have to worry about Washington hanging onto his rights. Gudas went from a goon to a gritty player that the fans embraced.

If this is truly the end, thank you Gudas for everything you’ve done this season. The Caps will have to figure out how to fill that void on defense.