Music: {allcanada} BUDAJ: NO BETTER PLACE TO PLAY THAN MONTREAL

Monday, October 15, 2012

{allcanada} BUDAJ: NO BETTER PLACE TO PLAY THAN MONTREAL

The Montreal Gazette relays how Peter Budaj is training in Denver with a few Avalanche players to keep in playing trim and stays in touch with Carey Price with the occasional text message, having travelled north in July to the latter's Kelowna, B.C., summer home to skate and work out.

Like Price, he's not actively searching for work overseas, aware that a parachute-drop goalie isn't ideal for most European clubs that would be stuck — worse with the loss of a goalie than a skater — should the lockout end mid-season. Ten NHL goalies thus far have taken that route — six to Russia, two to the Czech Republic and one to Finland and Swedish Tier II.

What Budaj is most looking forward to is getting back to the hockey hotbed that is Montreal.

"I don't think there's a better place to play — 22,000 people shouting and screaming and chanting," he said. "It's getting ready for the game, stepping on the ice wearing the Montreal logo with so much tradition, like baseball's New York Yankees.

"The atmosphere the fans gave us throughout the year was incredible. Even though we were eliminated from the playoffs as early as we were, they still came to support us.

"Sometimes they're tough on you because they want good results. With such a tradition, on such a team, they deserve results. That's something that only can drive you to play better and to be better.

"That's something that, in a positive way, exceeded my expectations. I was expecting something big in Montreal but this was much bigger. It was always fun to go to the rink and get into a game."

For Budaj, the education of first Canadiens season will be something on which to build. He hopes it will yield more work in goal, though he vows he'll be ready whenever Therrien's call comes.

"Every year is going to bring different challenges for players, the team and the organization," he said. "One year under my belt in Montreal helps with my being one year older, wiser, and knowing what to expect."