VOORHEES, N.J. — Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas was suspended six games on Monday by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
Gudas inflicted a late hit on Bruins rookie prospect Austin Czarnik in the third period of the Flyers' 1-0 overtime loss in Boston that ended the preseason.
The hit came just days after Gudas clocked Rangers rookie Jimmy Vesey but avoided a suspension because the latter had placed himself in a vulnerable position.
This is only Gudas' second suspension in the NHL. He has more close calls than the Nine Lives cat in terms of near suspensions.
“It's something that Goudy has got to be aware of. Goudy is a very effective player, Goudy's got to play physical,” general manager Ron Hextall said. “There's just the odd thing that he has to take out of his game.”
The Flyers' roster goes in to the NHL at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. It will change on Wednesday when the club is expected to place defenseman Michael Del Zotto on LTIR.
What remains undecided is whether the Flyers carry seven defensemen. Brayden Schenn is also suspended for the opening three games.
Suspended players count on the roster. The Flyers open the season Friday night in Los Angeles as part of a three-game road trip this week.
“We have two guys, Schenner's suspended and if Goudy gets suspended, we'll have two guys suspended from a 23-man roster,” Hextall said.
“That's tough to juggle. So we'll have to think about that one and see where we're at health wise and make a decision.
“I don't know. I'll look at our health and take a couple of dice with a ‘D’ and an ‘F’ on it and roll them and see which one. ... It's a hard decision. I don't feel comfortable going that far away with either six D or 12 forwards. So either way, it's not going to be a comfortable feeling.”
In other words, Hextall has to decide between carrying seven defensemen and 12 forwards or six defensemen and 13 forwards when the club leaves for California on Wednesday morning.
If the Flyers recall a defenseman from the Phantoms, which is highly likely, they have to decide whether they want someone who more closely resembles the player they are losing. Gudas is a punishing defenseman. Sam Morin fits that bill.
Then again, if the Flyers want a more all-around defenseman, and one with NHL experience, they could turn to South Jersey native T.J. Brennan (58 games).
“We have [Nick Schultz] and [Brandon] Manning, who are kind of like Goudy, so whether we need more you can argue,” Hextall said of possibly calling up Morin.
“That's a decision we'll make in a few days here and we'll kind of see where we're at. The way things are happening, who the hell knows what happens tomorrow in practice, right? So you can't make these decisions too far ahead of time.”
Manning, who would be pressed into action with a Gudas suspension, has been cleared for contact (shoulder).
