"I've got to learn": Radko Gudas finally breaks silence after suspension for hitting Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews

Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas has spoken publicly for the first time after receiving a five-game suspension for the knee-to-knee hit that injured Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who had to undergo surgery to repair his torn MCL, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.

Following the incident and the suspension controversy, Radko Gudas has finally expressed regret over the knee-on-knee hit, acknowledging he must improve his play. As per earlier reports, the collision occurred on March 12 during a game between the Ducks and the Maple Leafs, when Gudas’ knee made contact with Matthews, resulting in a serious knee injury. The NHL Player Safety Department took the matter into cognisance and reviewed it. They later handed Gudas a five-game suspension, which several prominent NHL figures expressed dissatisfaction with.

Radko Gudas expresses regret over the brutal knee-to-knee hit that injured Auston Matthews

Following the five-game suspension controversy for hitting Auston Matthews, Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas has expressed his regret over the brutal hit that injured Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. He has finally acknowledged that he must improve his play.

Unfortunately, Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion on the knee-on-knee play with Gudas, an injury severe enough to rule him out for the rest of the 2025-26 regular season. Reports suggest that he underwent an MCL knee repair surgery on Thursday, with the Maple Leafs announcing that he faces a recovery timeline of approximately 12 weeks.


Speaking to the Athletic, Gudas expressed his deep regret. The Ducks captain stated, "I really hate the way it ended up, the point of contact. I'm not a fan of that. I never want to injure anybody out there. It's a hard-fought game. It's just, yeah, I never want to go out there and hurt anybody. I feel terrible about the outcome. I just committed to the play, and unfortunately, that was the point of contact."

Gudas admitted that he will never commit any such mistake again. The player even reached out to Auston Matthews and said he never wants to see anybody get hurt, and it feels terrible. “I never want to go out there and hurt anybody. It's very unfortunate. I reached out to him, too. We spoke. I never want to see anybody get hurt, so I feel very terrible about that,” he emphasized his remorse over the outcome.

Earlier, following the incident, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety imposed a five-game suspension on the Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas. According to reports, he forfeited $104,166.65 in salary during the suspension.

However, reports suggest he made his return from the suspension on Tuesday night, as Anaheim locked horns with the Vancouver Canucks, where the Ducks won by 5-3.