Player Discussion Radko Gudas

[Gliff]

I think I now have a pretty good understanding as to why (and how) this poster got to more than 141k posts on this board already.

30ish posts a day for the life of his account. Thats a job dude lol.

 

[Machinehead]

30ish posts a day for the life of his account. Thats a job dude lol.

It's mostly the GDT's. I'll do easily 100 a night in a GDT.

If it's not a GDT, then yeah, I post at work.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

The Athletic released their Top-20 Shutdown D-men article based on Evolving Hockey's RAMP (Regularized Adjusted Plus-Minus) tool. Gudas ranks #1 overall. From the names I recognize, the Kings have two ranked in Doughty and Roy (who is set to become a UFA). The Bruins also have two ranked in Carlo and Lindholm (usually pair mates), but, surprisingly, McAvoy isn't ranked or an honorable mention.

Who are the NHL’s best shutdown defensemen and why are they so valuable?

There are plenty of elite shutdown defenders who never get a turn in the spotlight because of the focus on points.

theathletic.com

This is why whoever plays with Gudas have their stats look better. Great job on Verbeek correcting his personnel choices on defense between 2022 off-season and this past off-season.

 

[Hey234]

The Athletic released their Top-20 Shutdown D-men article based on Evolving Hockey's RAMP (Regularized Adjusted Plus-Minus) tool. Gudas ranks #1 overall. From the names I recognize, the Kings have two ranked in Doughty and Roy (who is set to become a UFA). The Bruins also have two ranked in Carlo and Lindholm (usually pair mates), but, surprisingly, McAvoy isn't ranked or an honorable mention.

Who are the NHL’s best shutdown defensemen and why are they so valuable?

There are plenty of elite shutdown defenders who never get a turn in the spotlight because of the focus on points.

theathletic.com

This is why whoever plays with Gudas have their stats look better. Great job on Verbeek correcting his personnel choices on defense between 2022 off-season and this past off-season.

I think this article is an interesting detail to add to the debate on Vaakanainen vs Lindstrom. Lindstrom has been good without the aid of someone like Gudas while Vaakanainen has been just okay without Gudas IMO.

If Gudas is making his partners that much better, then he probably should be playing with someone who could benefit from that more than Vaakanainen. In my mind, that's either Mintyukov or Zellweger.

I think it also shows why some are so keen on Matt Roy. Plays the most minutes on Kings's 2nd ranked PK, blocks shots, defense focused, and already lives in Southern California. But the contract he'll get will probably be too long for the Ducks.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I think this article is an interesting detail to add to the debate on Vaakanainen vs Lindstrom. Lindstrom has been good without the aid of someone like Gudas while Vaakanainen has been just okay without Gudas IMO.

If Gudas is making his partners that much better, then he probably should be playing with someone who could benefit from that more than Vaakanainen. In my mind, that's either Mintyukov or Zellweger.

I think it also shows why some are so keen on Matt Roy. Plays the most minutes on Kings's 2nd ranked PK, blocks shots, defense focused, and already lives in Southern California. But the contract he'll get will probably be too long for the Ducks.

Others have pointed out that Lindstrom is playing without Gudas, since they're both RD's.

Gudas needs his playing time set to 19 minutes max to be most effective. Anything above that and Gudas' play suffers, as we have witnessed when playing with Mintyukov and over 20 minutes per game. Therein lies the caveat with Gudas' play.

As for Roy, I don't think the Kings would let him go because he's part of the reason they're a playoff team. He's 2nd on the team for skaters' TOI, 8th in team scoring, and 3rd in +/-. Plus, Doughty will be 35 year old next year. If Roy isn't there, then you've got two youths as the fail safe in 24 year old 5'10 Spence and 21 year old Clarke. That's a scary proposition for a team that is supposed to be playoff bound.

 

[Masch78]

This guy is +12 over 63 games, which is insane considering the season.

 

[JabbaJabba]

This guy is +12 over 63 games, which is insane considering the season.

I feel like the defense fell apart when Gudas was away. Very happy to have him on the team.

 

[Rasp]

What a chad. I would put him with Minty on the 2nd line and tell him to teach Minty how to be a beast

 

[Static]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1844764897797660727

 

[TheStuntman]

He's been great. His contract runs till end of next season, do the Ducks resign or trade him away? He'll be 36 at the end of contract.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

He's been great. His contract runs till end of next season, do the Ducks resign or trade him away? He'll be 36 at the end of contract.

Man I know it’s Assets Uber Alles but I would hope that management doesn’t trade away our captain and leader for like a 3rd round pick or whatever. At least not unless he wants to go AND there’s a clear captain replacement on the roster ready to go.

 

[robbieboy3686]

Man I know it’s Assets Uber Alles but I would hope that management doesn’t trade away our captain and leader for like a 3rd round pick or whatever. At least not unless he wants to go AND there’s a clear captain replacement on the roster ready to go.

This isn’t happening, he retires a duck for sure. Also, the perfect mentor for the current crop and guys like solberg behind them.

 

[TheStuntman]

Man I know it’s Assets Uber Alles but I would hope that management doesn’t trade away our captain and leader for like a 3rd round pick or whatever. At least not unless he wants to go AND there’s a clear captain replacement on the roster ready to go.

Gudas is pretty valuable as a RHD and definitely worth more than a 3rd round pick. Wouldn't surprise me if he gets a 1st + salary dump.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

 

[robbieboy3686]

He’s been cutting down on the awful mistakes lately. Still not to last seasons form. But he’s getting better. Maybe he feels less pressure to perform and play more comfortably now that lacombe has stepped up.

 

[TheGoodShepard1]

On a roster filled with disappointments, I’d make the argument that he’s the biggest one. I don’t know what has happened since he got the C, but his intensity has all but disappeared this year

 

[Doothpick]

On a roster filled with disappointments, I’d make the argument that he’s the biggest one. I don’t know what has happened since he got the C, but his intensity has all but disappeared this year

Comes with the territory - even Getzlaf when made captain, had to learn to reign himself a bit, and he lost some bite/bark because of it. Captain has to communicate with the referees differently. It's about learning to listen, heading of refs' warning and relaying those messages to the team as well. I guess that's why he got misconduct last night lol. The balls to wall aspect makes you liable to get the short end of the stick for your team. I think Gudas is doing a decent job, but I do miss the intensity as well, and I wonder if he would have the snarl from last season without the C.

To be honest I can't think of who else they could've made captain anyway, so yeah, it is what is. Gudas will be probably be a bit neutered rest of the way here. He's getting older too, so there is that as well.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

He was already more subdued last year than he had been prior to coming here. I'd guess it's just aging more than anything

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

On a roster filled with disappointments, I’d make the argument that he’s the biggest one. I don’t know what has happened since he got the C, but his intensity has all but disappeared this year

I’d agree, he’s been terrible defensively and non existent physically.


Strome fabbi Vatrano have been better leaders than him… hell mctavish is showing leadership qualities

Comes with the territory - even Getzlaf when made captain, had to learn to reign himself a bit, and he lost some bite/bark because of it. Captain has to communicate with the referees differently. It's about learning to listen, heading of refs' warning and relaying those messages to the team as well. I guess that's why he got misconduct last night lol. The balls to wall aspect makes you liable to get the short end of the stick for your team. I think Gudas is doing a decent job, but I do miss the intensity as well, and I wonder if he would have the snarl from last season without the C.

To be honest I can't think of who else they could've made captain anyway, so yeah, it is what is. Gudas will be probably be a bit neutered rest of the way here. He's getting older too, so there is that as well.

Prob shoulda just stuck it out with no captain

 

[Webster]

Gudas needs a mentor mission, bring Solberg home. They keep him on a leash over there, remember at the start of the season he was basically benched for playing too hard...lol

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Gudas needs a mentor mission, bring Solberg home. They keep him on a leash over there, remember at the start of the season he was basically benched for playing too hard...lol

Farjestad liked Solberg playing hard. It's when Solberg stepped over the line and continued to beat down on a downed opponent. The team had to re-focus Solberg's mentality and overall game. Since his benching, Solberg showed a flash of offense that helped him reach his highest rating this season with an 8.4 rating. His prior highest rating was 7.1 before the benching.

Gudas needs a mission to find the fountain of youth. Let Farjestad try to develop Solberg into a top-4D for another season instead of slowing or stagnating his development on NA ice.

 

[Webster]

Farjestad liked Solberg playing hard. It's when Solberg stepped over the line and continued to beat down on a downed opponent. The team had to re-focus Solberg's mentality and overall game. Since his benching, Solberg showed a flash of offense that helped him reach his highest rating this season with an 8.4 rating. His prior highest rating was 7.1 before the benching.

Gudas needs a mission to find the fountain of youth. Let Farjestad try to develop Solberg into a top-4D for another season instead of slowing or stagnating his development on NA ice.

Solberg is putting on the brakes instead of going for the hit, that's not him. It's because his coach has told him to do that and focus more on other parts of the game. Yes he's becoming a better defenseman, but they have removed much of his physical game.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Solberg is putting on the brakes instead of going for the hit, that's not him. It's because his coach has told him to do that and focus more on other parts of the game. Yes he's becoming a better defenseman, but they have removed much of his physical game.

You mean don't go for a hit that puts you out of position and make the situation worse for the team, but rather be more logical in when delivering the hits? Yes. I like Solberg becoming a better defenseman and eventually re-introduce that physicality because he knows when to apply it and when not to do it.

I don't comprehend the insistence of rushing youths instead of trying to improve their play. Our best defenseman on the NHL club wasn't rush, but rather overcooked in LaCombe. He was an OFD (offensive d-man) in high school who needed to learn how to play defense and spent four years in college doing so. It took his second season in the NHL to start popping off.

 

[Webster]

You mean don't go for a hit that puts you out of position and make the situation worse for the team, but rather be more logical in when delivering the hits? Yes. I like Solberg becoming a better defenseman and eventually re-introduce that physicality because he knows when to apply it and when not to do it.

I don't comprehend the insistence of rushing youths instead of trying to improve their play. Our best defenseman on the NHL club wasn't rush, but rather overcooked in LaCombe. He was an OFD (offensive d-man) in high school who needed to learn how to play defense and spent four years in college doing so. It took his second season in the NHL to start popping off.

Yeah I'm not saying it's a bad plan to let him continue his development in Färjestad. They want him to slow down his physicality, but it's not like he's going to forget about it. As you know he loves to play hard, they'll probably let him loose a bit more when he arrives here.