Big Blue Line UFA Name Confirms Interest in Toronto Maple Leafs

Radko Gudas will be an interesting name on July 1, as the pending UFA defenseman from the Anaheim Ducks is potentially set to hit the open market.

ESPN analyst Kevin Weekes wrote, “Per sources, I’m told @AnaheimDucks Captain D Gudas is gaining interest in the marketplace. If him and Ducks can’t get a deal done, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs are among potential fits. He’s physical, experienced, playoff tested, on a 2-3Yr term between 3.5M-4M+AAV.”

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That’s part one of any chance the defenseman and the Maple Leafs might come together. With the Leafs making changes to their blue line — Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae being traded for — they’re still in the market to do more and Gudas is on their radar.

Part two is that Gudas would need to be interested.

Darren McCarthy writes, “Checked in with pending UFA Radko Gudas as it relates to his interest in playing in Toronto if Maple Leafs express interest in the event he reaches free agency on July 1. He told me, “I am open to anything.”

So, it sounds little less like Gudas is specifically eyeing the Maple Leafs and more like he’s open to taking the best offer. But, he’s not ruling them out and if Toronto shows up with a solid pitch, he’d be good to go.

What’s the Catch?

There are two potential issues. First, it’s the price. Gudas isn’t a regular in the NHL any longer. He might be a five or six on any NHL blue line, but on a competitive team, he’s going to be in and out of the lineup, as he was with the Ducks during these past playoffs. How much is a team willing to pay for that? Maybe too much if one or more clubs believe he has more to offer.

Two, there’s a history with Auston Matthews that can’t be quickly overlooked. Gudas took out Matthews with a dirty hit last season, and it cost the Leafs’ superstar the rest of the season. Are the Maple Leafs going to look the other way and forget that ever happened?

There is value in Toronto having a gritty player like Gudas on the team. But, if they pay too much and it’s not water under the bridge with Matthews, that’s a problem.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Hurricanes, Maple Leafs’ Bet & Oilers