VOORHEES, N.J. — Radko Gudas thinks he’ll be available for exhibition play before the end of the preseason.
The Flyers' defenseman, who is rehabbing a fractured right wrist, still has not been cleared to shoot the puck as full training camp opens on Friday at Skate Zone (see storylines).
“It’s a longer process than I thought,” Gudas said Thursday of his recovery. “Might be the end of the week or starting next week. I hope to be ready for a few preseason games.”
His workouts right now focus on core strength in his lower body. He has been doing some puck handling and passing but no shooting.
General manager Ron Hextall said this week he will proceed cautiously with Gudas, who wants to play in exhibition games.
“I don’t think it would be good for me if I didn’t play any preseason games,” he said. “We’ll see how the hand feels.”
Gudas was injured in offseason training but said his wrist actually bothered him long before that. He also said his pain level is greatly decreased from where it was during the World Cup training camp with the Czech team when he was forced to withdraw.
“That was a tough one,” Gudas said. “You don’t want to miss an opportunity like that but in the end, the Flyers' season is what is important and I've got to make sure I am 100 percent ready.”
Gudas said he didn’t injure his wrist on any specific play on the ice or exercise off the ice.
“It was overwork,” he said. “I had problems with the wrist at the end of the season. I took some time off and worked over the summer and might have overdone it a bit. And then it started not feeling right the last couple weeks.”
An MRI showed a stress fracture.
There is competition in camp on the blue line with Andrew MacDonald pushing to remain here after a strong showing over the final quarter of the season and playoffs, not to mention rookie Ivan Provorov, who should make the roster (see story).
“I’m pretty confident in myself to jump in there,” Gudas said. “Obviously, the competition is good. I’m looking forward to competing for the team.”
Despite a suspension and some questionable hits last season that brought him unwanted attention, Gudas re-signed with the Flyers on a four-year, $13.4 million contract. He is the club’s only physical blueliner.
Gudas said he reflected over the summer on some of his legal/illegal hits, bad penalties, etc.
“I want to stay in line and play my game,” Gudas said.
Loose pucks
Flyers veterans went through pre-camp testing on the ice today. ... They also had their media day for pictures and video that will be used on television, plus some marketing shoots for later in the season.
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