Gudas is glad he landed with Flyers

For the newest Flyer, Radko Gudas, life is good.

The rugged defenseman, acquired along with first- and third-round draft picks in the deal that sent Braydon Coburn to Tampa Bay, is healing after knee surgery, is expecting his first child (a girl) in two weeks, and is being reunited with his longtime friend from the Czech Republic, Jake Voracek.

"I'm happy to be on a team that wants me," he said Wednesday after arriving at the team's practice facility in Voorhees. "It's always exciting to be a part of something new."

Gudas, 24, who said his father (Leo, a onetime Calgary draftee) and Scott Stevens were his role models, had knee surgery in January and hopes to skate before the end of the regular season. When healthy, he will give the Flyers a physical edge on the blue line.

"He's got other people on the other team on edge when he's out there because of his physical play," coach Craig Berube said, adding that Gudas also has "pretty good composure with the puck."

Gudas, who is built like a fire hydrant, said because his father played throughout Europe, he moved several times as a youngster and can speak five languages: English, German, Swedish, Czech, and Finnish.

Berube strongly hinted that winger Zac Rinaldo will return to the lineup Thursday against the physical Blues at the Wells Fargo Center.

"I'm leaning toward that kind of game," Berube said. "Zac can add that element and bangs bodies, and we'll need that, for sure."

That means Vinny Levcavalier, who has not scored a goal in his last 21 games, will likely be a healthy scratch.

Defenseman Nick Grossmann, who missed Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to Calgary with a head injury, practiced Wednesday and is listed as day-to-day. . . . St. Louis is 18-10-3 on the road, while the Flyers are 18-8-6 at home.