Kristen ShiltonMar 15, 2026, 02:28 PM ETCloseKristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Auston Matthews helped off ice after hit to knee (0:26)The Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews leaves the game after taking a knee from the Ducks’ Radko Gudas. (0:26)
That punishment was critiqued for being too light given Gudas’ history — he had been suspended four times previously — and for the caliber of injury Matthews suffered as a result of Gudas’ knee-on-knee hit.
That much was clear even before the DoPS rendered its verdict by offering Gudas a phone hearing that made a five-game ban the maximum allowable; anything more requires an in-person meeting. The play in question was considered by critics to be significant enough to warrant the latter.
The incident itself occurred during Thursday’s game between the Leafs and Ducks when, late in the second period, Gudas intentionally collided with Matthews and sent Toronto’s captain to the ice writhing in pain. Matthews was helped back to the dressing room and did not return. Gudas was assessed a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct.
The Leafs announced on Friday that Matthews had suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion as a result of the hit, essentially ending his season with Toronto projected to miss the playoffs.
Matthews’ agent Judd Moldaver released a statement to ESPN on Friday night denouncing the NHL’s findings.
McDavid has now joined that chorus of voices who feel further examination of the NHL’s disciplinary system is warranted. Toronto coach Craig Berube — who originally called the Gudas hit a “dirty play” — felt the DoPS missed the mark in being so lenient.
“Looking at it, we lose our guy, our captain for the year,” Berube said. “I don’t know, it doesn’t seem like enough for me. The guy doing it [Gudas] is a repeat offender, [and] it just doesn’t seem like enough.”
Matthews’ teammate and frequent linemate Matthew Knies also concluded that Gudas’ punishment didn’t fit the crime.
“I think the league could’ve done a little bit more seeing as our best player, our captain [won’t] be with us for the rest of the year,” Knies said. “That’s a big loss [and] I would’ve loved to see a little bit more.”
“In light of the obvious severity of the play, I am very disappointed and shocked that the league would allow for such a ruling. A phone hearing and five games is just laughable and preposterous,” Moldaver wrote. “While the hearing process is pre-fixed in our CBA, that there was no further discipline is a reckless and ridiculous position for Player Safety. This decision results in a further loss of confidence in the disciplinary process for all players. Players and fans deserve better. The Player Safety Department should be suspended.”
Auston Matthews helped off ice after hit to knee (0:26)The Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews leaves the game after taking a knee from the Ducks’ Radko Gudas. (0:26)
The Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews leaves the game after taking a knee from the Ducks’ Radko Gudas. (0:26)
Kristen ShiltonMar 15, 2026, 02:28 PM ETCloseKristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Connor McDavid is calling on the NHL to investigate how it is doling out supplementary discipline.
Toronto and Anaheim face each other again on March 30.
CloseKristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.Follow on X