Panthers sign Radko Gudas to 3-year contract

The Florida Panthers signed defenseman Radko Gudas to a three-year contract, the team announced Friday.

The deal is worth $2.5 million per season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Gudas spent last season with the Washington Capitals where he registered 15 points in 63 games and averaged 16:44 per contest. The gritty blue-liner also had previous stints with the Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Panthers traded for Markus Nutivaara on Thursday, apparently set on upgrading their back end after being eliminated by the New York Islanders in the qualifying round in August.