Former Canadiens’ Goaltender Hired to Ducks Coaching Staff

On July 10, the Anaheim Ducks organization hired former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Peter Budaj to be their next goaltending coach. He replaces David Rook.

Budaj played in 368 career NHL games from 2005 to 2019. During this span, he amassed 158 wins, averaging a 2.70 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. He played for the Canadiens from 2011 to 2014, garnering a record of 23-16-8. During his 2001-02 OHL season, he led the league in both GAA with 2.29 and save percentage with .928. He was drafted 63rd overall by the Avalanche in 2001.

Budaj retired from playing professional hockey in 2019. In 2021, the Slovakia-born netminder joined the Colorado Avalanche organization midway through the season, serving as the AHL affiliate Colorado Eagles goaltending coach for two seasons.

Budaj will work with Ducks’ goaltenders John Gibson and Lukas Dostal. The tandem registered a combined record totaling 27-50-5 with 3.57 GAA and a .894 save percentage. Anaheim ranked third in most goals allowed during the 2023-24 season with 293.