Peter Budaj
Peter Budaj was drafted by the Avalanche in the 2001 Draft as the first pick for the Avalanche and 63rd overall. He was considered one of the top Slovak prospects before he was selected in the draft and was marked for being a very solid goalie. When Budaj came to the OHL, he played very well for the Toronto St. Michael's Majors. He then played three seasons for the Hershey Bears of the AHL, further cementing his reputation.
Budaj arrived to play for the Avs in the 2005-2006 season. He played 34 games and posted a win-loss record of 14-11-6 with a save percentage of .900. Budaj's second season in Colorado was better, as he played in 57 games and posted a win-loss record of 31-16-6 with a save percentage of .905.
Budaj has long-range potential for the Colorado Avalanche and should likely take over as the goalie of the future for the club. He's got a great attitude and will do whatever it takes to win. Positionally, Budaj is sound. He has good quickness and quick lateral movement around his net, not to mention a reliable glove hand. Budaj may well be the complete package one day, but he still needs to work on his confidence. He's reliable but not overly sturdy in big game situations.
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