NHL defenseman Radko Gudas has received a five-game suspension from the NHL's disciplinary committee following a serious kneeing foul against star player Auston Matthews during a game in Toronto. The announcement regarding Gudas' suspension was made by the NHL through its official website, stressing that he will forfeit a considerable amount in salary, which totals $104,166, amounting to approximately 2.23 million CZK, as stipulated by league policies that require suspended players' salaries to be directed to a player assistance fund.

The incident occurred in the 36th minute of Thursday's match when Gudas's aggressive play led to Matthews being injured, resulting in the latter’s early exit from the game. The Toronto Maple Leafs emerged victorious in the match with a score of 6-4, bolstered by contributions from players like Matthew Knies, who noted the frequency of Gudas's reckless behavior and its repercussions on the team's performance by targeting key players.

In his defense, Anaheim's coach Joel Quenneville argued that Gudas's action was unintentional, labeling it as a reflexive movement rather than a deliberate attempt to injure. Gudas is scheduled to begin serving his suspension in today's game against Ottawa, missing not only this match but also the subsequent four, raising questions about his impact on team dynamics as the Ducks navigate this challenging period without him.