The Detroit Red Wings could use a player like Radko Gudas.
Radko Gudas would be the perfect trade deadline addition, but it's complicated. Due to the media scrutiny, the rugged, physical defenseman chose to sign with the Anaheim Ducks in free agency over teams like Toronto and Edmonton. I am not suggesting that Detroit's media is anything like Toronto or Edmonton, and Gudas did play in Philadelphia before Florida.
The Red Wings are an up-and-coming team that could use a defenseman with a mean streak. Gudas, 33, has a full no-trade clause for this season attached to his deal, so he holds the cards to his immediate future, but knowing the Ducks are just beginning what general manager Pat Verbeek is calling a 'lengthy' rebuild, perhaps Gudas would prefer to play on a team like Detroit that is finally on the cusp of a postseason run.
Remember, Gudas was the defender that leveled Red Wings forward Klim Kostin and had some words for the forward as he clutched his midsection on the ice following the hit. He wasn't asking him where he was going for dinner later that night, that's for sure. Gudas didn't like how Kostin ran into goaltender Lukas Dostal moments before. The hit was a clean hit; Kostin had the puck on his stick skating laterally along the offensive blue line, and Gudas caught him in the trolly tracks, shoulder to the chest.
Gudas, like the previous two defenders mentioned, is a right-handed shot. He's notched six goals and 13 points on the season to go with 189 hits and 119 blocks. He's also a plus-12 on the year. Gudas is averaging nearly 20 minutes per night and, like the others, would pair nicely with Ben Chiarot on Detroit's second unit.
The Red Wings need to add a physical player for their playoff run when the checking becomes much tighter. Detroit currently sits with 205 goals scored on the season, which ranks them sixth in the league, but they have given up the 19th most goals this year (183). Yzerman needs to shore up the backend if the organization hopes to make a serious playoff push. The Red Wings have the second-best record in the league since Jan. 1st.