Thursday following the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed veteran goalie Peter Budaj.
Official! ☑️ We have signed Peter Budaj to a two-year contract. https://t.co/9gbH2dvKNU
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 22, 2017
TAMPA, FL – While Andrei Vasilevskiy will be the starter for the Tampa Bay Lightning, locking up his number two was an important part of the 2017 off-season. Budaj was the goalie the Lightning acquired when they traded Ben Bishop to the Los Angeles Kings at the trade deadline. During the remaining part of the season, Budaj posted a 3-1-0 record to go along with a 2.80 goals against average.
When Vasilevskiy signed an extension last off-season, fans and media knew his time had come and Bishop’s had come to an end. Budaj will factor in nicely behind the young goalie, as well as provide veteran leadership in the goalie room.
In his career Budaj has posted a 155-128-39 record in 357 games, with a 2.67 goals against average. Over his career Budaj has played for the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angles Kings and now the Tampa Bay Lightning. Budaj was originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche 33rd overall in the 2001 Entry Draft.
What’s next for the Lightning?
Tampa will lean on Vasilevskiy and Budaj as they look to rebound from a disappointing season, in which they didn’t make the playoffs. After trading Drouin and signing Budaj, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman will look to lock up Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat.
Yzerman has stated that he is still on the look out for another possible defenseman, especially after losing Jason Garrison in the expansion draft. Youngster Mikhail Sergachev could factor into the Lightning’s blue line group this upcoming season. Jake Dotchin who played nearly half the season with the Lightning will also get a chance to make the roster out of training camp.
