Polarizing player could be named next Captain of Anaheim Ducks

In the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts Blog, insider Elliotte Friedman speculated that Radko Gudas could become the next Captain of the Ducks after he was selected to represent the team at the North American media tour.

Radko Gudas is one of the few older players on a very young Ducks team as they're coming out of their rebuild. He's 34 years old, and in the second year of a three year contract that pays him $4M a season. If he were to take on the captaincy, he clearly would be a short term mentor for the next era of the Ducks, and likely sign another contract to retire with the team. Gudas has now played 748 career NHL games with four other teams, only scoring 39 goals and 182 points.

What Gudas is really known for across the NHL is his thunderous hits and crazy antics in scrums. Every year, Gudas lays some of the biggest hits of the season, and always plays an incredibly emotional game. When the Florida Panthers eliminated the Leafs in the playoffs, he famously screamed in the face of the goalie as they skated off the ice to celebrate.

It would be a non-conventional choice for the Ducks to name Gudas as the Captain with so much young talent on the roster, and more players on the way. Making Gudas the locker room leader may be a way for new GM Pat Verbeek to make an impact on the locker room, and establish a culture for the future that their young players can learn now.