New York Rangers' Jimmy Vesey is the latest Victim of Radko Gudas
Another day, another dirty and dangerous hit from number 3 of the Philadelphia Flyers. This time, his victim was an up-and-coming New York Rangers rookie.
Last night, as I sat in my room doing some work done, my phone started to explode. “Did you see Radko Gudas‘ hit on Jimmy Vesey?” most of my texts and notifications said.
Usually, when I can’t watch a game from the start, I stay off of Twitter until I can catch up via my NHL Gamecenter–since I live near Philadelphia and don’t get MSG. After seeing those messages, though, I knew I needed to go watch this “ridiculous hit” for myself. After seeing it with my own eyes, I replied to one of my friend’s texts.
“What a damn joke.”
That is referring to the hit, the player who made the hit, and the fact that he probably won’t get suspended for doing so.
I’ll start by saying this, yes Vesey could have done a better job along the boards to protect himself there. But that by no means excuses what Radko Gudas did in this instance.
Gudas saw nothing but Vesey’s back the entire time. Once you see the numbers of the opposing player, you should know not to hit them, or at the very least not to hit them hard. I understand that Gudas is a big boy, but he had plenty of time to stop his momentum to keep from hitting his man with so much force. Keep in mind that this is a preseason game that he did this in! Takes some kind of brains…
If this was a guy who had a clean record throughout his career, then that’s one thing, and while it’s still a bad hit and should still be suspended, I would probably go easier on him. But since it’s Gudas, who has been in the league for 4 years and has tip-toed over the line numerous times, neither the league or anyone else should be fooled anymore.
Somehow, Gudas has only been suspended once in his career. It was a 3 game ban for an illegal check to the head on former Ottawa Senator and current New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad.
Somehow, since then he has not been suspended for his dirty hits. That includes this doozy on the Buffallo Sabres’ Daniel Catenacci
And not even 5 days later, he did it again, this time his victim was New Jersey Devil’s forward Bobby Farnham
Yup, didn’t get suspended for that one either.
And who can forget this one he had on former New York Ranger Viktor Stalberg…
Look, I don’t wanna rip on the Philadelphia Flyers anymore than I already do from just being a Rangers fan, but if they want people to stop thinking of them as a team that hasn’t changed their approach since the 70’s and keeps employing head-hunters and dirty players than they need to waive Gudas rear end immediately.
In talking to Flyers fans, they mostly agree with the notion that Gudas should’ve been suspended numerous times and the team should’ve sent him a message by waiving him, or at the very least benching him.
And shame on the NHL for not suspending this child for those past 3 instances and most likely this next one with Jimmy Vesey. It’s an absolute disgrace.
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