Gudas-Greer Rights Swap
Florida Panthers acquire veteran Radko Gudas' rights from Ducks for A.J. Greer
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Key Points
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Gudas previously played for the Panthers from 2020-23 before joining Anaheim, and he served as the Ducks' captain for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, underscoring his leadership value.
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Anaheim has been active in trades this offseason as part of a broader rebuild, moving multiple players including John Carlson to the Hurricanes, Mason McTavish to the Blues, and Olen Zellweger to the Sabres.
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Greer is a 29-year-old forward who posted a career-high 32 points this season, has 81 career points in 326 regular-season games across six NHL teams, and won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2025.
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In 56 games this past season with the Ducks, Gudas had 2 goals and 11 assists (13 points) while leading with 164 hits, 88 blocked shots, and 67 penalty minutes, averaging 16:11 of ice time.
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Gudas is a Prague, Czechia native who has played 885 NHL games, highlighting his veteran experience across multiple franchises.
The Florida Panthers have reacquired the rights to defenseman Radko Gudas from the Anaheim Ducks, trading away the rights to forward A.J. Greer in return, according to Sun Sentinel. Both players are pending unrestricted free agents on July 1, giving the two clubs just 48 hours to sign extensions before the market opens.
Gudas, 36, spent three seasons in Anaheim after leaving Florida in 2023. He served as Ducks captain for the last two seasons. Greer, 29, won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2025 and posted a career-best 32 points this past season, per Local 10.
Gudas Returns to Florida After Three Years in Anaheim
Gudas played for the Panthers from 2020 to 2023, serving as captain during that stretch. He then signed a three-year, $12 million deal with Anaheim. His $4 million AAV is expected to drop significantly on a new deal, with projections landing around $2.75 million per year, according to TSN.
In 56 games this past season, Gudas posted 2 goals and 11 assists. He led the Ducks with 164 hits and added 88 blocked shots and 67 penalty minutes. He averaged 16 minutes and 11 seconds of ice time per game. "Florida has always felt like a second home," Gudas said, per TSN.
Rights Swap Gives Both Teams a Head Start on Signing
Under NHL rules, trading a player's rights before free agency opens gives the acquiring team a 48-hour window to negotiate alone. That window closes July 1 at noon ET. Florida GM Bill Zito used the same strategy to lock up players without getting into a bidding war, per NHL.com.
The Panthers needed defensive toughness after minor regression in the 2025-26 season. Gudas has played 885 NHL games and brings over 1,000 career penalty minutes. Analyst Pierre LeBrun of TSN called it a "classic win-win," saying Florida gets their enforcer back while Anaheim lands a proven winner.
Greer Heads to Anaheim After Cup Win and Career Year
Greer posted 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points in 78 games this season — all career highs. He has 81 career points in 326 regular-season games across six NHL teams, per Head Topics. He won the Stanley Cup with Florida in 2025 before becoming a pending free agent.
Greer is expected to seek around $3.2 million per year on his next deal. "The opportunity in Anaheim to take on a larger leadership role during their transition is something I'm ready for," Greer said, per ESPN. He steps into a Ducks locker room now filled mostly with young prospects.
Anaheim's Offseason Fire Sale Clears the Roster
The Ducks have moved several veterans in June 2026. GM Pat Verbeek sent John Carlson to the Hurricanes, Mason McTavish to the Blues, and Olen Zellweger to the Sabres, per The Athletic. The Gudas trade is the latest move in what analysts are calling a full rebuild.
Anaheim is now the youngest team in the NHL by average age. Critics question why the Ducks did not trade Gudas at the deadline for a draft pick instead, per ESPN. Moving him now for Greer's rights is seen by some as a lateral move that adds little draft capital.
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