Radko Gudas is a Czech professional ice hockey defenseman born on June 5, 1990, in Kladno, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic).
He currently serves as captain of the Anaheim Ducks in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Known for his physical, hard-hitting style, Gudas has built a reputation as a tough, defensive-minded player who leads in hits and penalty minutes across many seasons.
Standing at 6 feet and weighing around 208 pounds, he plays a gritty game that emphasizes shot-blocking, physical presence, and leadership on the blue line.
Siblings
Radko has one sibling, his sister Karolína Gudasová.
She is an accomplished actress and singer in the Czech Republic.
Karolina is married to former NHL goaltender Michal Neuvirth, who was briefly a teammate of Radko’s with the Philadelphia Flyers, making Neuvirth Gudas’s brother-in-law.
The couple has at least one child together, a daughter named Emilka.
Career
Gudas was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third round, 66th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft after a strong junior career that included time in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Everett Silvertips, where he earned Second Team All-Star honors in the West Division.
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He turned professional in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Norfolk Admirals, contributing to a Calder Cup championship in 2012 before making his NHL debut.
Gudas spent his early NHL years with the Lightning, establishing himself as a reliable, physical defenseman.
He later played for the Philadelphia Flyers, where his tenure overlapped with his future brother-in-law Neuvirth.
Subsequent stops included the Washington Capitals and the Florida Panthers, with whom he reached the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
In July 2023, Gudas signed with the Anaheim Ducks, and in September 2024 he was named the team’s captain, becoming the ninth captain in Ducks history and the sixth Czech player to captain an NHL team.
Over more than 14 NHL seasons and nearly 900 games, Gudas has accumulated solid defensive statistics while consistently ranking among the league leaders in hits.
He has represented Czechia internationally, including at World Championships—where he earned recognition as a top player for his national team—and was selected for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Accolades
Gudas was a member of the AHL’s Calder Cup-winning Norfolk Admirals in 2012 and participated in the AHL All-Star Game in 2013.
In junior hockey, he received WHL West Second All-Star Team recognition in 2010 and was named a top-three player for Czechia at the U20 World Junior Championship in 2009.
He also won gold with Czechia at the U18 World Junior Championship Division 1A in 2008.
At the senior international level, Gudas was recognized as a top-three player for Team Czech Republic at the 2017 IIHF World Championship and helped the team secure gold at the 2024 World Championship.
In the NHL, his leadership was formally acknowledged when the Anaheim Ducks named him captain in 2024.
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