NHL Player Safety's George Parros stands by Radko Gudas suspension

Parros says 'our process, I feel very confident in' after Ducks captain's 5-game ban for hit on Leafs' Matthews

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:11pm

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George Parros, the head of the NHL Department of Player Safety, defended the league's decision to suspend Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas for five games for a knee-on-knee hit that ended Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews' season. Parros said the league's process for evaluating plays and handing out supplemental discipline is sound, despite criticism that the suspension was too light.

Why it matters

The Gudas suspension has sparked debate around the NHL's player safety policies and whether the league is doing enough to protect its stars from dangerous hits. As one of the most visible figures in player safety, Parros' defense of the decision and the league's process will be closely watched.

The details

Parros said the league evaluates plays based on the action itself, not the players involved, and then considers factors like injury and a player's history when determining supplemental discipline. He said the assumption was that Matthews was injured on the play, but that a phone hearing - which limits suspensions to a maximum of five games - was still deemed appropriate in this case.

  • The incident occurred during a game between the Ducks and Maple Leafs.
  • Gudas received a five-game suspension for the hit on March 17, 2026.

The players

George Parros

The head of the NHL Department of Player Safety, responsible for handing out supplemental discipline for dangerous plays.

Radko Gudas

The Anaheim Ducks captain who received a five-game suspension for a knee-on-knee hit that ended Auston Matthews' season.

Auston Matthews

The Toronto Maple Leafs captain whose season was ended by Gudas' hit.

Connor McDavid

An NHL player who has spoken out, saying perhaps it's time the disciplinary process gets a look.

Judd Moldover

Auston Matthews' agent, who also represents Connor McDavid.

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What they’re saying

“We came to it for good reason. When we evaluate these plays, we look at the play and not the players. If we determine that play was worthy of supplemental discipline, we then look at history of the players involved and if there is an injury or not. This is how we come to make all of our decisions. We did this and made this decision under those circumstances, felt that this was the appropriate response and so I stand by it.”

— George Parros, Head of NHL Department of Player Safety

“We have a process in place that we feel confident in. We've been doing it a long time. We sweat over these decisions and pore over these decisions every night all season long. We have a process in place that's consistent and we have a team that works for me and together with me that evaluates all these plays. It's a very experienced team, veteran team, guys that have been here since the beginning of the department, not to mention all the former players that have a large set of experiences in playing NHL games, accolades.”

— George Parros, Head of NHL Department of Player Safety

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.