Gudbranson has previously played for the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, and Calgary Flames.

Gudbranson scored his first career OHL goal on January 23 against Jaroslav Janus of the Erie Otters in a 6–5 overtime loss.

In the playoffs, Gudbranson was held pointless in seven games as Florida lost to the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals round.

[2] At the time of the transaction, Canucks general manager Jim Benning thought his team needed a physical defenceman, while the Panthers felt that McCann was a better fit for its possession-based style of hockey than Gudbranson.

[8] On October 19, 2017, Gudbranson was assessed a five-minute major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct for a hit on Boston Bruins forward Frank Vatrano.

[10] After playing in 57 games and recording 8 points for Vancouver in the 2018–19 season, Gudbranson was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 25, 2019, in exchange for Tanner Pearson.

[11] On April 12, Gudbranson recorded his first Stanley Cup playoff point, a goal assisted by Evgeni Malkin, during the Penguins' first-round 3–1 loss to the New York Islanders.

[12] On October 25, 2019, after playing in seven games with the Penguins to open the 2019–20 season, Gudbranson was traded by Pittsburgh to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Andreas Martinsen and a 2021 seventh-round pick.

[13] Gudbranson found a role on the Ducks blueline, matching a career-high four goals in just 44 games with Anaheim before the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[17] On September 10, 2021, Gudbranson as a free agent joined his seventh NHL club, in signing a one-year, $1.95 million contract with the Calgary Flames.

[20] On July 13, 2022, Gudbranson as a free agent joined his eighth NHL club, in signing a four-year, $16 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

[19] In his first season with Columbus, Gudbranson was one of the few Blue Jacket defensemen who remained healthy, appearing in 70 games, scoring one goal and 13 points.

[24] Gudbranson is a supporter of Canadian Blood Services and promotes stem cell donation as a result of his brother's battle with leukemia.