Radko Gudas suspended 10 games for slash to the head of Winnipeg Jets’ player

The Philadelphia Flyers will be without defenseman Radko Gudas for a little while, as the blue liner was suspended 10 games by the NHL on Sunday. Gudas will play his next hockey game with the Flyers on Dec. 12.

The news comes just a handful of days removed from Gudas earning himself a game misconduct penalty for slashing Winnipeg Jets’ forward Mathieu Perreault in the back of the head. Gudas was tossed from the game Thursday night for the incident, in a game where the Flyers lost 3-2 in a shootout.

Gudas was given the option for an in-person hearing this weekend, but the defenseman declined the right and instead opted for an over-the-phone hearing.

Here’s the NHL’s ruling on the matter, highlighting the extent of why Gudas gained the suspension.

The NHL’s ruling places Gudas’ slash as a “forceful chopping motion delivered to a player in a vulnerable position.” While the Flyers defenseman admitted it wasn’t an “intentional” act, Gudas was “aware of Perreault’s presence” below him. The play was deemed reckless, for obvious reasons.

The Flyers have been recovering from a handful of injuries on the defensive side, so the loss of Gudas for the time being will cause head coach Dave Hakstol to shuffle the lines around a bit.

Gudas will forfeit $408,536.60 in salary for the incident as well.

The suspension isn’t Gudas’ first, as the defenseman was given a six-game suspension last October for interference against Austin Czarnik of the Boston Bruins.