Peter Budaj is a Slovakian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in 2005.
Budaj spent the majority of his career as a backup goaltender, but he did have a few seasons where he was the starting goaltender for his team. He played for the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Arizona Coyotes throughout his career.
Budaj's best season came in 2016-2017 when he was the backup goaltender for the Kings. He played in 53 games that season and had a record of 27-20-3 with a 2.12 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. He also had seven shutouts that season, which was tied for the most in the NHL.
Throughout his career, Budaj was known for his work ethic and his ability to be a reliable backup goaltender. He was also known for his positive attitude and his willingness to help his teammates.
Budaj retired from professional hockey in 2019 after playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Ontario Reign. He finished his NHL career with a record of 158-131-42, a 2.66 goals against average, and a .904 save percentage. He also had 18 shutouts in his NHL career.
Off the ice, Budaj was known for his charitable work. He was involved with the Kings Care Foundation and was a nominee for the NHL's King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.
Overall, Peter Budaj had a successful career as an NHL goaltender. While he may not have been a superstar, he was a reliable backup goaltender who was respected by his teammates and coaches. He will be remembered for his work ethic, positive attitude, and charitable contributions to his community.
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