According to the specialized server Hockey Fights, it was the first fight of the season for the 32-year-old Panthers sharp back and the 34th fight overall in the regular season of the NHL. Gudas was most busy last year, when he was served eight times. And in January he was already struggling with Miller.
However, old hatred does not rust. When the Czech muscle man hit pure Swede Nils Höglander in the middle of the second period, he immediately had Miller with him, who wanted to settle his scores. Gudas dealt a few blows to the bottom, the American knocked the helmet off his head, but then the Czech power prevailed and the visitors’ quarterback knocked Soka to the ice. Both then finished after five minutes. And the guests won 5:1.
“I tried hard to play all the time, but here in Florida I have more space to do it. I try to use it and be the player they wanted. I believe they are happy with it and I am also excited,” Gudas told Sport recently .cz
Last season, he dominated the hit statistics, collecting 355 of them, by far the most of any NHL player. Runner-up Tanner Jeannot of Nashville posted 318.
And Gudas is moving up in his favorite discipline this year as well. He is currently third with 94 hits behind Philadelphia’s Nicolas Deslauriers (105) and Vancouver’s Luke Schenn (101).
“The guys in the team appreciate it, because thanks to those hits they have more space. But I understand that the opponents may not like it,” added Gudas, who with 39 minutes is among the ten most punished players of the season.
During his time overseas (since 2009), he has fought more than ninety times in the sum of WHL, AHL, NHL, preseason matches and playoffs…
Gudas’ three-year, $7.5 million contract in Florida expires at the end of this season. The Panthers brought Matthew Tkachuk to the team before the season, who has a similar style to the Czech bearded man. And Panthers general manager Bill Zito will likely receive offers to trade him from teams looking for experienced, tough, reliable running backs for the playoffs.
That they are interested in Gudas, for example, in Edmonton, is no secret. But Panthers fans would have a hard time coming to terms with the departure of the popular tough guy.
