Flyers sign Gudas to four-year extension

Jun 24, 2016

The Flyers have re-signed defenseman Radko Gudas to a four-year, $13.4 million extension with an average annual value of $3.35 million.

Gudas, 26, scored five goals and 14 points in 76 regular-season games this past season, finishing second in the NHL with 304 hits and 19th with 157 blocks. The punishing Czech defenseman played very well in the second half of the regular season, which included a very uncharacteristic scoring streak in early March in which he scored five goals in ten games. He added zero points, 30 hits and 19 blocks in six playoff games in the Flyers’ first-round loss to the Capitals.

Gudas was acquired from the Lightning at the trade deadline in 2015 as part of the Braydon Coburn deal. He will earn $4 million in salary in the first year, $3.5 million in year two, $3.4 million in year three and $2.5 million in the fourth and final year of the deal.

The Flyers now have $20.65 million tied up in six defensemen, including Shayne Gostisbehere, who enters the season in the final year of his entry-level contract, as well as Mark Streit ($5.25 million), Andrew MacDonald ($5 million), Michael Del Zotto ($3.875 million), Nick Schultz ($2.25 million) and Gudas ($3.35 million). There have been rumors that the last year of Streit’s contract could be moved, but it will be difficult for Flyers general manager Ron Hextall to find a trading partner.

Gudas, a third-round draft pick (66) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has 12 goals and 46 points in 202 career regular-season games with the Lightning and Flyers.

Photo: Jillian Wagner

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