This controversial hit got Radko Gudas ejected from a preseason game
It didn't take Radko Gudas very long to deliver his first controversial hit of the 2016-2017 season.
The Philadelphia Flyers defenseman, who has a history full of bad hits and cheap shots, boarded New York Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey during a preseason game on Monday night. Gudas received a major penalty for the hit, as well as for fighting immediately after it, and was given a game misconduct.
Because of Gudas' rep and the fact that the league is trying to crack down on these kind of hits, there's already some discussion about whether he will face supplemental discipline as a result of the hit.
It seems like it could go either way. On one hand, Gudas delivered a hit between the numbers and finished the check when he probably didn't have to. Putting a guy into the glass like that is incredibly dangerous and can often result in a head and/or neck injury
But, on the other hand, Vesey -- entering his first NHL season -- needs to do a better job of not putting himself in position to take those kind of hits. Gudas seemed to have Vesey lined up until the 23-year-old winger suddenly changed direction and turned his back towards the defenseman, leaving him susceptible to a hit from behind.
After leaving the game, Vesey returned in the second period and seemed to be fine, which plays in Gudas' favor considering the league factors injury into potential suspensions. What doesn't work in Gudas' favor, however, is the fact that it's still preseason and the NHL can use this incident to set the tone and send a message early on in the year.
