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Peter Budaj News & Rumors

Peter Budaj to start for Avalanche vs. Sabres Tuesday
January 4
Denver Post
 
"It's Peter Budaj's turn. After the Avalanche practice this morning at Family Sports Center, coach Joe Sacco said Budaj would get the start in net Tuesday night when Colorado faces the Buffalo Sabres at the Pepsi Center. "Craig (Anderson) has played the last three games and I've said all along that Peter was going to get his share of games," Sacco said. "I thought Peter played well in the Detroit game (last Monday), and we came up with a point in that game, so I just think it's the right time to get him back in there." The start will be the 20th game of the season for Budaj, who has a 9-6-3 record, a 3.05 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage."
Faith is just one goal for Avs' Budaj
November 9
Denver Post
 
"In a sport where profanity is the unofficial language, where "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" can be taken a little too literally, staying grounded in his deep Christian faith might seem difficult for a guy like the Avs' Peter Budaj. But the goalie has never been shy about expressing his faith with the team. He often leads the way in prayer meetings with Avs teammates as part of newly created chapel services. "We have a few guys doing it right now. In the midst of everything, it's good to slow down sometimes and have a little reflection," Budaj said. "Because life as a professional athlete can be very slippery. It doesn't matter, your good looks, your good body, your nice clothes, your"
Avs' Budaj thinking of No. 1
November 1
Denver Post
 
"Like everyone else on the Avalanche's 2008-09 team, he was a disappointment — the No. 1 goalie on the last-place team in the Western Conference. He started only 11 games the next season, relegated almost exclusively to the bench. But through it all, Peter Budaj and the Avalanche have stuck by one another. It may come as a surprise, but Budaj has been part of the Avs' organization since 2001, when he was drafted in the second round. Only Milan Hejduk (1994) and Adam Foote (1989) have longer tenures from a franchise draftee standpoint. It might also surprise people to know Budaj is still only 28 years old. Budaj hopes it isn't a surprise to anyone that he still dreams of being a No. 1 goalie"
Budaj starts in goal for Avalanche on Tuesday
October 26
Denver Post
 
"Peter Budaj did not play his first game last season until Nov. 4. Tuesday night in Vancouver, Budaj will start for the second time this season. Budaj, who won his first start at Detroit, will be between the pipes when the Avs play their first Northwest Division opponent of the season, the Canucks. Colorado finishes a two-game road trip Thursday at Calgary. "I think he deserves an opportunity to get in there again," Avs coach Joe Sacco said. Starter Craig Anderson is coming off one of his poorer performances since coming to the Avs, a 6-4 loss to the Los Angeles Kings Saturday. He played seven of the first eight games, and started a franchise record 71 last season."
Budaj's play in net could lead to more time on ice
October 13
Denver Post
 
"With Peter Budaj making his first start much earlier than last season, the question of whether his workload will be heavier than 11 starts was put to Avalanche coach Joe Sacco after Tuesday night's 5-4 shootout victory over Detroit. "I make those decisions game by game," Sacco said. But Sacco seemed to admit he doesn't want to play Craig Anderson 71 times again, which set a team record last season. "It's important going down the stretch for a team that's worthy of being in the playoffs, I think the goalie would benefit (from a rest)," Sacco said. "But the biggest thing is getting to the playoffs.""
Avs sign Budaj, Koci to new deals
June 4
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche on Thursday announced the signings of veteran backup goaltender Peter Budaj and enforcer David Koci to one-year contracts. Both signed for what they made last season — Budaj $1.25 million, Koci $575,000. The 27-year-old Budaj, the one-time Avalanche No. 1 goalie, played in only 15 games, starting 11, as Craig Anderson, brought in as an unrestricted free agent from the Florida Panthers, got most of the work and Colorado coach Joe Sacco seemed to have little faith in Budaj. Four of Budaj's starts were consecutive, in early December, when Anderson was injured, and Sacco usually chose not to give Budaj one of the starts when the Avalanche played on back-to-back nights. Despite"
Budaj overcomes shaky start to lead Avs past Blues
March 17
Denver Post
 
"Peter Budaj emerged from hockey's version of the witness protection program Tuesday night and became the Avalanche's star witness to its 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Playing his first game since Jan. 8, Budaj overcame that layoff, a goal against in the first eight seconds of the game and the withering third-period pressure applied by a desperate Blues team trying to stay in the playoff chase. Budaj's 36-save performance moved the Avs within three points of Vancouver in the Northwest Division, and nine points up on ninth-place Calgary in the Western Conference. "We're not going to get ahead of ourselves," captain Adam Foote said. "Right now, we're playing teams that are desperate"
How about spot duty for Budaj?
February 4
Denver Post
 columnist Terry Frei
"Peter Budaj was the only Avalanche goaltender on the ice for practice Wednesday; Craig Anderson had the day off. As he usually does, Budaj stayed out long after the conclusion of the team work, playing the foil for the lingering skaters and a mixture of serious individual work and horseplay. This season, Budaj has started only eight games. The conclusion is unavoidable: Avs coach Joe Sacco, who praises Budaj's attitude and professionalism, has little confidence in him. Anderson has had a remarkable season. Yet there have been many instances when starting Budaj made sense — most notably when Colorado played on back-to-back nights. Still, Sacco has gone with Anderson, hoping he can hold up"
Budaj returns to Slovakia's Olympic squad
December 30
Denver Post
 
"For the second time in his hockey career, Peter Budaj will be an Olympian. The Avalanche's backup goalie Tuesday was named to the Slovakian Olympic team for February's Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. "It's obviously a big honor to represent your country, and I'm very happy," Budaj said. Budaj played for Slovakia in the 2006 Olympics in Turin. He went 2-1 with a 2.01 goals- against average and .924 save percentage in three starts. Budaj may not be the only Avs goalie going to Vancouver; Craig Anderson is under consideration for the U.S. team, which will be announced after the Winter Classic in Boston on Friday. "Craig has certainly earned the right to be considered," Avs coach Joe"
Budaj earns praise for solid efforts
December 6
Denver Post
 
"For the first month of the season, the Avalanche's reliance on goaltender Craig Anderson as a workhorse was understandable, given his strong play. But in recent weeks, with Anderson coming back down to earth, Colorado coach Joe Sacco's continued reluctance to use Peter Budaj at least made it appear as if he had little faith in the Slovak goalie. So, what has Sacco learned about Budaj the past two games, when Anderson has been unavailable because of an injured neck? "I think he's a pretty resilient guy," Sacco said after the Avalanche's 3-2 victory over Columbus on Saturday. "It's been a tough go for him over the past couple of months here. He understood his role, he worked hard, and he"
Avalanche's Budaj issue keeps growing
December 1
Denver Post
 
"It is simply impossible not to like Peter Budaj. The kid is unfailingly polite to everyone, always credits others for any success he has and never ducks the media after a rough night. That's why it has been painful to see what Budaj has gone through this season with the Avalanche. He is the forgotten man, the goalie who never plays. The Avs played their 28th game Monday night, a 3-0 victory against the Lightning. Budaj has started exactly two of them. His last start came Nov. 18 at Edmonton, a 6-4 loss in which he allowed five goals on 32 shots. In the three games he has played, his goals-against average is 4.29, and his save percentage is .855. It's clear that coach Joe Sacco doesn't have"
Sullen Budaj takes blame for loss to Oilers
November 19
Denver Post
 
"On a night when Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj fought the puck, the puck emerged the decisive victor. On a night when the Avs had a two-goal lead and two subsequent 5-on-3 power-play advantages, they decided to get more charitable than Bill Gates' foundation and dropped a 6-4 decision to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. With the five goals he gave up on 32 shots, Budaj has allowed nine goals in fewer than five periods of work in the past week. This might explain his hunched posture and the muttering gestures to himself in the locker room afterward. "Pucks were going through me," Budaj said. "We score four goals on the road, we should win. I was in the right position a few times, but"
Avalanche coach Sacco confirms Budaj is battling swine flu
October 28
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche coach Joe Sacco confirmed Tuesday that backup goalie Peter Budaj, who missed his scheduled first start of the season Friday because of illness, has been diagnosed with swine flu, the H1N1 virus. "We've taken the necessary steps, the necessary precautions, to keep him away from the guys at the right time," Sacco said. "Hopefully, he'll be joining us on this trip." Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman said Tuesday that before the season, the team's medical and training staff formulated a conditional plan that would kick in if any players were diagnosed with H1N1. He said that plan — primarily involving isolation for any stricken player and additional preventive medications for"
Avs' Budaj out with flu; Anderson back in
October 24
Denver Post
 
"About Avalanche goaltender Craig Anderson's night off ... Never mind. Colorado backup goalie Peter Budaj, scheduled to get his first start of the season tonight against Carolina, has the flu and won't play. Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said Anderson would start his 10th consecutive game tonight. Tyler Weiman was recalled from Lake Erie, was at the morning skate today and will suit up as Anderson's backup. "Peter came down with some flu-like symptoms (Thursday) afternoon," Sacco said this morning. "I made a call to Craig and informed him that he was going to be playing today." In six games with Lake Erie this season, Weiman has a 3-3 record, a 2.16 goals-against average and a .916 saves"
Avalanche goalie Anderson gets first rest; Budaj to start vs. Hurricanes
October 23
Denver Post
 
"Glenn Hall's NHL record of 502 straight games started by a goalie is still safe - Craig Anderson won't play all 82 games this season for the Avalanche. Backup Peter Budaj will get his first start of the season tonight in Colorado's ninth game, at home against the Carolina Hurricanes. "I think it's the right time to get Peter in there and it's the right time to give Craig a night off," Avs coach Joe Sacco said. "We've been riding Craig, but everybody here has faith in Peter. He's going to play a great game for us." Budaj, the starting goalie on opening night the previous two seasons, has tried to stay sharp by working extensively with new Avs goalie coach Jocelyn Thibault. Anderson is"
Budaj signs deal, likely No. 2 in net
June 30
Denver Post
 
"Peter Budaj may not be the starting goaltender for the Avalanche when the 2009-10 season begins. But he will be on the roster. Budaj signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Avs on Monday, avoiding arbitration. The Slovakian native made $800,000 last season, and many speculated he would be cut loose by a team that finished last in the Western Conference. But Budaj is still young, at 26, and always has been praised by teammates for his good attitude and work ethic. Those are the qualities best associated with backup goaltenders, and it is likely Budaj will enter the Avs' training camp as their No. 2 goalie. Colorado is still waiting to hear the decision from 24-year-old Swedish"