George Richards, FHN Publisher
SUNRISE — Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice had been asked a number of questions about the health of defenseman Radko Gudas.
On Friday, conversation turned toward Gudas’ large mass of facial adornment.
It is becoming legend.
By the Beard of Guds!
“Radko’s beard is actually part of his hitting,’’ Maurice said. “His weight is tied into the beard.
“The beard weighs 103 pounds. I’m not sure that’s legal. Now the refs will start going through his beard.”
On the latest episode of ESPN’s Quest For The Stanley Cup, the behind-the-scenes cameras caught up with the Panthers as they were preparing for Game 1.
Ryan Lomberg was giving Gudas a little bit of grief about the length of the beard — one he says he has not trimmed up since the start of the postseason — joking that “he’s got some bacon grease in there, keeping it tight.’’
It certainly is an attention getter.
But, as the Panthers are quick to point out, Gudas is more than just the mane.
Over the past three seasons in Florida, Gudas has become one of the team’s most relied upon defensemen.
He is rarely in a bad position and, as Maurice pointed out, has proven to be a great mentor for younger defensemen such as season-long partner Josh Mahura.
Most of the time anyone sees him on television, however, is due to a big hit — or talk about his beard.
“Radko Gudas is a far more technical player, a systematically right player who people don’t understand because, how would they?” Maurice said.
“All of the highlights are him going to blow somebody up. And that’s fun to watch. But if you watch his game, you understand the systems that we’re running. He just doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. It’s part of the reason why Josh Mahura comes off waivers and doesn’t come out of the lineup again. He is a wonderfully consistent mentor because he also plays at the same intensity level every night.
“You don’t get to sit beside Radko on the bench and think, ‘well maybe I’ll just go half speed tonight.’ I’m not because Radko is not going to allow that. You have to keep moving. So he is this very strong technical player but also a very strong personality.”
Gudas has been banged around a bit in this series with Vegas.
He came off the ice limping and missed the end of the first period in Game 1 and was seen grimacing in pain later in the third period.
In Game 2, he went to deliver a hit on Ivan Barbashev but instead took the brunt of it, leaving the game after being hit in the face and then hitting his head on the ice.
Although Gudas did not practice with the team on Wednesday, Maurice said he would play in Game 3 — and there he was.
Gudas ended up playing 18:08 in Game 3’s overtime win over the Golden Knights and delivered two hits.
Friday, he said he was feeling “great’’ when asked.
“It was great tram effort, great team victory,” he said. “It always helped the bumps and bruises when you win so I have the positivity with me today. The trainers always do great work with me so I feel pretty well.”
FLORIDA PANTHERS ON DECK