Budaj Is Back

"The Avs are looking at three games in the next four nights — they also play Edmonton at home Friday — so Budaj likely would have played against the Blues even if Raycroft hadn't gotten dinged at Columbus."

about 1 year ago David Driscoll-Carignan 83 comments 0 recs |

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Budaj!

/raises glass

Red Wings Suck

by texacogirl on Jan 14, 2009 7:56 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Did you yell that like Mr. Miyagi yells Bonzi? If so, that was awesome.

BUDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAJJJJJJJ!

I built the Eiffel Tower out of steel and brawn. You have a small brain. It's science.

by JonHaven on Jan 14, 2009 10:33 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes! Exactly like that.

Red Wings Suck

by texacogirl on Jan 14, 2009 11:24 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Miyagi and I

recently had a date night. I went through the Karate Kid movies with my trusty Captain Morgan by my side. What an epically sad night.

I am Jack's unbridled optimism.

by SlamDunkTheFunk on Jan 15, 2009 3:56 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Apparently...

Raycroft suffered a mild calf injury against the BJ’s. Budaj was “scheduled” to play against St Louis, but this injury “solidifies” the start for him. If Raycroft is not able to go the following night Budaj could get 2 starts in two nights.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Jan 14, 2009 8:08 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

that would be when Clark tackled him, I assume?

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 14, 2009 8:10 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

-1

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 2:12 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

- (-1)

(trying to keep it positive in here.)

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 2:26 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sticking with Complex

sqrt(-1)

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Jan 16, 2009 12:22 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh stop

Quite imagining up new things.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 16, 2009 8:26 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Sanford on Waivers

The Avs should think about picking him up if they have any ambitions of making the playoffs. Not necessarily to be the #1 guy, but Budaj hasn’t exactly rocked our world and Raycroft makes me nervous. I would feel a lot better with a capable veteran on the roster somewhere. (I didn’t say he’s a badass, “take us to the finals” goalie, I said capable veteran.)

I built the Eiffel Tower out of steel and brawn. You have a small brain. It's science.

by JonHaven on Jan 14, 2009 10:43 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

No thank you. Let’s not make it even more complicated than it is. Sanford definitely is no play-off material.

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Jan 15, 2009 9:43 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

“Complicated” is not the word I would use to describe a showdown between to average-at-best goalies.

I built the Eiffel Tower out of steel and brawn. You have a small brain. It's science.

by JonHaven on Jan 15, 2009 12:53 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

This article by Terry Frei is also great. With all the negative stuff Dater has been writing, this is exactly what I, at least, needed to read.

http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_11456746?source=commented-avalanche

BUDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAJJJJJ!

by hockeymom on Jan 15, 2009 8:14 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Frei has been consistently awesome all year.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Jan 15, 2009 8:24 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I wish he would take over all of the Avalanche stuff. I am pretty much over Dater.

by hockeymom on Jan 15, 2009 8:25 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I know! Before this season it was exactly the other way around.

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Jan 15, 2009 9:44 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe they are playing good reporter, bad reporter and it’s Dater’s turn/season to be the douche.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Jan 15, 2009 10:37 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he’s doing a fantastic job of it, I must say.

Wouldn’t it have been nice to have had Frei’s article come out first, before Dater’s “I told you so, I told you so, he lost his starting position” article. It would have completely changed the tone of everything.

What I really want to know is when is DD going to apply for Dater’s position. Wouldn’t it be super cool to read his stuff in the Denver Post. DD might actually turn into the “Muppet Whisperer.”

by hockeymom on Jan 15, 2009 10:43 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

No, it wouldn’t. Relationships where one takes over the other’s job never turn out well, and I’m still rooting for a happy ending between the two.

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Jan 15, 2009 11:33 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn’t it have been nice to have had Frei’s article come out first, before Dater’s "I told you so, I told you so, he lost his starting position" article. It would have completely changed the tone of everything.

I’m not sure it would have changed the tone, Dater’s Haters can’t be reasoned with,
But those of us who have a more positive outlook on the whole situation enjoy having a “media personage” who sees things in much the same way we do.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Jan 15, 2009 11:58 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Personally I don't think our goalies are that average. It's the D thats been playing average but I do like the rotation every 3-4 games.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 2:17 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

I would have to agree with you that our defense has not been playing up to par, thus the low grades most received in their report cards.

by hockeymom on Jan 15, 2009 2:20 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

don't understand

You think the goalies are playing better and the defense average, or the goalies are bad and the defense average?

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 2:25 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the Goalies are above average and I like the rotation and I don't see any controversy there.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 2:28 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok

I approve of that sentiment.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 2:29 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I just disagree. I think our D isn’t all that bad

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Jan 16, 2009 12:23 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

wait, did you just call someone average? you negative nancy you.

by thedoctor on Jan 15, 2009 2:33 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

average is not negative it's right in ze middle

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 2:34 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I also don't think Bret Clark has played as poorly as most think, He's a true defensive defensman,

I don’t care about his scoreing I like what He’s doing on the defensive side.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 2:33 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Ok

Now I disagree. If he’s being paid for his defense he’s been even worse. His defense has been downright dreadful at times this season. He makes some decent plays sometimes but has a lot of trouble clearing the zone.

And the fact he’s making $3.5M to be our 5th or 6th defenseman (at best, I really think Tjarmin Ultra should be starting over him) is a crime against HumAVity.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 2:39 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

thought you were trying to keep it posative?

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 2:50 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't work for Altitude

Not everything is the best ever. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with criticizing someone’s play. I will be positive in my outlook for the future, but to watch someone play poorly and not say anything about it, or say it’s been great when it isn’t is lying.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 3:13 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

This is an average team in every way, that means for every instance of good play, there’s most likely an instance of poor. let’s not put out heads in the sand here.

by thedoctor on Jan 15, 2009 3:16 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

but show me who we can pick up or bring up and who is good out there instead of cutting people down. learn to see some of the posatives and fix things instead fo focusing on the negative.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 3:30 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m pretty positive that “positive” doesn’t have an “a.”

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Jan 15, 2009 3:31 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 3:32 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Not everything has to be positive all the time

especially when you’re being honest about how our defense has played. It’s impossible to be realistic and come out the other side smelling like roses.

I am Jack's unbridled optimism.

by SlamDunkTheFunk on Jan 15, 2009 3:27 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed I'm just looking for what's good out there so we can improve.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 3:32 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

But sometimes you improve by looking at what’s bad so you can fix it. Denial of what’s bad isn’t going to do that.

by hockeymom on Jan 15, 2009 3:34 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not in denial just dont like classless name calling.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 3:39 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I will

never stop calling Hannan a Hobbit.

And if you haven’t noticed, this blog, and the members in it, have quite a snarky sarcastic streak. There is a community here and that community makes jokes, gets angry with players and has nicknames for players. Some of the nicknames are endearing (McDreamy) some are not so good (Arthur, Arnageddon, Sanjaya etc for Arnason, whatever it is we’re calling Tucker at the moment.).

There’s a lot of good serious debate that goes on here. But there’s a lot of joking around about the Avs. That’s not classless, that’s just part of being part of a fun-loving laid back community. Please remember this

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 3:43 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

The nicknames

are one of the BEST parts of this community. They are LOL funny.

by hockeymom on Jan 15, 2009 3:45 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Just like if your joking around with your friends. We do it because we love.

by InYoFace on Jan 15, 2009 3:47 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't mind nicknames as long as they'er not malicious and just mean.

Trust me I’ve been called worse than Monoroboto

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 4:17 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Worse than that?

Nooo0o0o0o0o0o

I am Jack's unbridled optimism.

by SlamDunkTheFunk on Jan 15, 2009 4:33 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I positively despise

McDreamy for JML, The Savage has spoken, Let it be done.

The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World

"Two roads divurged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost

by Savage33 on Jan 15, 2009 7:14 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

If you can see the Beauty in a rotting fish head you may see things in a more objective manor.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 4:19 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.

- – Jack Handy

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 4:45 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah...

look, jibble and I disagree as to Clark’s usefulness on D — I think he’s quite good most of the time and struggles in very visible ways on D that everyone focuses in on. But to call Clark a “true defensive defenseman” …yeah, no. Clark is a decent defender with some offensive upside.

by thedoctor on Jan 15, 2009 2:58 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I will accept that but what about Tjarmin, please fill me in on what makes Him better than Clark.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 3:02 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Serious question

Is it possible for you to write your posts under the subject line.

The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World

"Two roads divurged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost

by Savage33 on Jan 15, 2009 7:15 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Why don't you make a better case for Tjarmin Ultra.

Instead of bringing Clark down. Make your case and inlighten me on Tjarmin please.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 2:42 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Because

We were talking about Clark. I was giving my honest opinion of how he played this season.

But if you want a case for Tjarmin here it is. I think he’s been decent defensively and in my mind is stronger than Clark in his own end (especially positionally). He is more stay at home and doesn’t get caught out of position nearly as much. Clark’s advantage is that he’s supposed to provide more offense, and since the Avs have Foote and Hannan they need to make up for that lack of offense with other puck-moving offensive defensemen.

However Tjarmin Ultra, this season, is even scoring at a better rate than Clark. Tjarmin Ultra is scoring at a .242 points per 20 min of ice-time rate. Clark, this season, is at .190 points per 20min of ice time. Granted Tjarmin’s stats could be a result of a small sample size, but Clark isn’t pulling his weight where he’s being paid to do so.

Tjarmin also makes almost $3M/season less than Clark and has been making. I was hoping he would get hot and the Avs could clear that from their cap by trading him, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. I think Tjarmin has been playing better than Clark and deserves to be in the lineup over Clark when everyone is healthy.

By the Way, Brett Clark leads Avs defensemen in Time on Ice this season. More than Liles, more than Hannan.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 3:10 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

the big issue with this comparison is who Tjarny is playing against. look at behindthenet.ca — Tjarny has the lowest quality of competition of any Avs defender. Clark is playing against much harder competition.

bottom line, it’s easy to look good against 4th liners.

by thedoctor on Jan 15, 2009 3:13 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

Tjarmin has benefited from weaker competition and better teammates. And like I said it’s a small sample size. Fair enough.

Clark is still, IMO the 5th or 6th D-man on this team.

Aside: Behind the net. I’m not sure how to look at Behind the net’s GFON/60 and GA…. By their Standards Sakic is the worst player on the team, but he also faces the toughest opponents and has the worst teammates. I wonder how you take that into account, especially for defensive statistics. So it’s very hard to prove that Tjarmin is a better defender than Clark, or quantify just how bad (or good) Clark is in his own zone.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 3:28 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Dammit

Now you’ve taken a defensemen debate, which should be on the defensemen grades thread, to the Budaj is back thread. I’m positive you’re messing up these threads. Very nicely, I may add.

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Jan 15, 2009 3:30 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks but it is good debate and not just ripping. Thanks for the good input this is what I expect from an Avalanche Blog good debate so I as a novice can learn. Not people calling players names like kids on the ice.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 3:37 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry

But I converted that thread to Scott Hannan tributes set to Mariah Carey music.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 3:53 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Good point

Which went along with the brief tribute to other music that sucks. Now I’m positively confused.

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Jan 15, 2009 3:55 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, they’re a bit rough as stats go, certianly not perfect. but Sakic’s awful numbers totally match his play prior to being hurt — I know this is blasphemy, but he was terrible.

by thedoctor on Jan 15, 2009 4:14 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

But

He wasn’t that bad relative to the rest of the team. He certainly wasn’t playing well, but I refuse to believe he was a larger defensive liability than one Tyler Arnason.

And for that matter Stastny and Hejduk are bigger liabilities than Arnason in that.

Is their /60… per 60 minutes played, or per 60 minutes of game times?

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 4:32 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

minutes played.

sadly, Arnason has improved his game defensively. we all remarked on it here. also Arny’s got a pretty low quality of competition. but the stats aren’t the be all and end all. GA/60 does provide the best objective measure of defensive play though — much better than one guys saying player X sucks and the other saying he’s awesome. defense in hockey is really, really hard to view objectively.

by thedoctor on Jan 15, 2009 4:54 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

he’s been better defensively. But there’s no way he’s better than Stastny and Hejduk. If he were wouldn’t Granato throw him out there for the PK (and watch all of us pick up the torches and pitchforks).

No Stastny and Hejduk have worse stats because they are being thrown out there against the other team’s best defensive lines very often. I don’t think it’s all that good of a statistic, especially iif quality of competition isn’t factored into it.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2009 4:57 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

quality of competition is always an issue with every stat — even points or goals. we still use them because they’re a useful “bottom line” measurement independent of human error. I think it’s easier to work with taking out quality of competition than sorting through Clark or Skoula vitriol over at HF or something. but that’s just me.

and stats are always always misleading in any sport if you’re not careful with context. just take the big 12’s offensive numbers this year!

by thedoctor on Jan 15, 2009 5:32 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh ya I'm glad Budaj is guarding the net. GO AVALANCHE ! ! !

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 3:43 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Positively!!

by hockeymom on Jan 15, 2009 3:46 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

We even have nicknames for each other

which is a bit weird considering we all use a nickname as our screen name to start with….

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Jan 15, 2009 5:46 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

uuhh

that was supposed to be a replay to somewhere up above…

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Jan 15, 2009 5:48 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I mentioned this one night

and I still find it really amusing.

I am Jack's unbridled optimism.

by SlamDunkTheFunk on Jan 15, 2009 5:48 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

let's come up with monodono's nickname!

and it better be POSITIVE!!!!!!!!!1one

by thedoctor on Jan 15, 2009 6:22 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

My vote:

Chromium(IV): the most positive cation I could find

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 16, 2009 8:29 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Almost, Manganese has a +7 variant.

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Jan 16, 2009 10:05 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I like P239

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 16, 2009 12:43 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Manganese

Cool, it also somewhat resembles the monodono name and can be abbreviated MG+7… Sold!

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 16, 2009 12:47 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

you guy's really do like me...I don't know what to say.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 16, 2009 12:51 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

on the other hand, the reply button hates you

by thedoctor on Jan 16, 2009 1:38 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

So does the bold button/subject line. Or atleast I hate it when overused by people.

The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World

"Two roads divurged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost

by Savage33 on Jan 16, 2009 6:14 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

bold

the subject line is always bold.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Jan 16, 2009 10:16 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I know that, But he’s had some seriously long sentences entirely in bold which seem too long for a subject, not trying to offend, but not caring if i do but it seems like he wants his posts bold so everyone wil notice, just like the muppets who post entirely in caps.

The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World

"Two roads divurged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost

by Savage33 on Jan 16, 2009 11:45 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs