Peter Budaj, a Slovak goaltender, spent a considerable portion of his professional hockey career in the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on September 18, 1982, in Banská Bystrica, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia), Budaj's journey to the NHL began in his homeland before he moved to North America to further his career.
Budaj was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, 63rd overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Avalanche during the 2005-2006 season. Over the next several years, Budaj served primarily as a backup goaltender for the team, providing reliable support and occasionally stepping into the starting role when needed. His tenure with the Avalanche lasted until the end of the 2010-2011 season.
In July 2011, Budaj signed with the Montreal Canadiens, where he continued to play as a backup goaltender. During his time with the Canadiens, Budaj was known for his steady presence in the net and his ability to step up during critical moments. He played with Montreal until the end of the 2013-2014 season.
Following his stint with the Canadiens, Budaj was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in October 2014, although he did not play any games for the Jets and spent the season with their AHL affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps. In 2015, Budaj signed a contract with the Los Angeles Kings, where he initially played for their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. However, due to injuries to the Kings' starting goaltenders, Budaj was called up to the NHL during the 2016-2017 season. He performed admirably, playing in 53 games and recording a career-high 27 wins.
In February 2017, Budaj was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he played for parts of two seasons. He returned to the Los Angeles Kings in 2018 for his final NHL season. Budaj announced his retirement from professional hockey in September 2019.
Throughout his career, Budaj was known for his professionalism and team-oriented mindset. He was respected by teammates and coaches alike for his work ethic and positive attitude, both on and off the ice.
🏒