With the NHL offseason just over 24 hours old, the Washington Capitals are already restructuring their roster.
The Capitals have traded defenseman Matt Niskanen to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Radko Gudas, senior vice president and general manager
Brian MacLellan announced Friday morning.
"We would like to thank Matt for all of his contributions to our organization for the past five seasons," MacLellan said. "Matt is a consummate professional and was a big part of our success. We wish him and his family all the best moving forward."
The move will give the Capitals some much-needed salary cap wiggle room as Niskanen had two years left on his deal and carried a $5.75 million cap hit. Gudas, a 6'0 204-pound defenseman from Prague, has just one year left on his deal worth $3.35 million and the Flyers will retain 30 percent of Gudas' salary.
"We feel this move provides us with financial flexibility as we look for additional ways to strengthen our team," MacLellan said. "In addition, we are pleased to welcome Radko to our organization. Radko is a good defensive defenseman that plays a competitive, physical game."
Gudas, 29, will carry a $2,345,000 salary cap hit for the 2019-20 season, per Cap Friendly. In 77 games last season he tallied 20 points (4 goals,16 assists) with the Flyers last season, which was his third season with at least 20 points.
In five seasons with the Caps, Niskanen recorded 156 points (29 goals, 127 assists) in 390 games. He tallied nine points during the 2017-18 playoff run to the
Stanley Cup.
I once asked a #Caps player who their least favorite player was in the league. Lots of agitators and annoying guys to choose from. Their answer? Radko Gudas. The Caps just traded Matt Niskanen to bring him to DC.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen)
June 14, 2019 I am flummoxed by trading Niskanen for Gudas. He has a lot of Marchand qualities minus all of the skill that makes him supportable. (MacLellan has a high enough batting average to give him the benefit of the doubt, but this is baffling).
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen)
June 14, 2019 I'm not a Radko Gudas guy. But playing devil's advocate:1) Nisky had fallen off.2) Longer you wait, harder to trade him.3) Clears up money.4) Could allow you to keep Hagelin or add a piece.5) Analytics are kinder to Gudas than eyeballs.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen)
June 14, 2019 That the #Caps even got a player back for Matt Niskanen was a surprise. Radko Gudas fills a role they probably needed as a veteran defenseman - unless you were cool with a Jonas Siegenthaler-Christian Djoos 3rd pair with no depth behind it.
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14)
June 14, 2019 Follow Ben Krimmel and 106.7 The Fan on Twitter.
