Radko Gudas comments for first time since suspension, and it proves just how bad NHL Player Safety is
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Radko Gudas returns to the Anaheim lineup tonight for head coach Joel Quenneville, but the resulting damage is completely permanent.
The veteran defenseman just finished serving a laughable five-game suspension. His reckless knee-on-knee hit back on March 12 officially ended the season for Auston Matthews.
Matthews underwent major reconstructive surgery to repair a Grade 3 tear of his medial collateral ligament.
Gudas faced the media following the morning skate at Rogers Arena today. He claimed he feels terrible about the collision and the unfortunate point of contact.
The blueliner stated it was never his intention to injure anyone. He confirmed he exchanged text messages with the Toronto captain.
A Broken Safety Standard in the NHL
An apology text message does not magically repair shredded knee ligaments. The NHL Department of Player Safety operates like an absolute joke.
Giving a 35-year-old physical player with four previous suspensions a mere five games is an outright insult.
George Parros limited the review process to a simple telephone hearing, guaranteeing a soft punishment from the start.
This ruling firmly proves the league cares more about protecting the perpetrator than defending the victim.
The chronic leniency was on full display just eight days later. Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer received a pathetic three-game ban for deliberately shoving Connor Zary head-first into the boards.
Reckless players face zero actual consequences while top-tier offensive stars are left vulnerable on every single shift.
Gudas insists he wants to stay out of the penalty box moving forward. He desperately leaned on his streak of over seven clean years prior to this ugly incident.
Past good behavior should never excuse a reckless, career-altering blow in the defensive zone.
The Maple Leafs lose their best sniper for months, and Gudas casually slots back into the blue line rotation tonight. The league must enforce real deterrents before another elite talent is taken out of the Show.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Chris Pronger blasts the Oilers after McDavid's controversial weekend
Chris Pronger blasts the Oilers after McDavid's controversial weekend
| POLL | ||
MARS 25|223 ANSWERS Radko Gudas comments for first time since suspension, and it proves just how bad NHL Player Safety is Should Radko Gudas have been suspended for the rest of the season? | ||
| Yes | 188 | 84.3 % |
| No | 35 | 15.7 % |
| List of polls | ||