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5 NHL Players Who Won’t Sustain 1st Half Success

By Alex Vanderlaan

Jan 11, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (88) against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (88) against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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NHL Players: Los Angeles Kings goalie Peter Budaj (31) defends the goal against the San Jose Sharks during a NHL hockey game at Staples Center. The Sharks defeated the Kings 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Players: Los Angeles Kings goalie Peter Budaj (31) defends the goal against the San Jose Sharks during a NHL hockey game at Staples Center. The Sharks defeated the Kings 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Peter Budaj, G, Los Angeles Kings

Before I provide reasoning as to why Budaj will have a rough second half, I’d like to acknowledge how great he’s been for Los Angeles this season. Many people wrote them off at the start of the year when Jonathan Quick went down. The team lost their first three games of the season, but rallied and currently hold the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Budaj deserves a large amount of credit for the team’s success. His goals against average is 8th in the NHL (goalies with 10gp or more) at 2.14, and has started more games than any goalie not named Cam Talbot, Cam Ward, Martin Jones, or Tuukka Rask. He’s outperformed all expectations that the team had of him when he took over in net…

Jan 12, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Los Angeles Kings goalie Peter Budaj (3) entering the rink during a NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Los Angeles Kings goalie Peter Budaj (3) entering the rink during a NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

…Which is exactly why he’s in for a second half decline. The last time the 34-year-old started over 40 games was in 2010/11 for the Colorado Avalanche, when he put up a GAA of 3.20 and helped guide the team to the second-worst record in the NHL. In the five previous seasons that he played 30+ games, he never recorded a goals against average lower than 2.57. Throughout his career, when he’s had to play in a significant portion of his team’s games, the results haven’t been anything special. This is why his first 39 starts this season have been such an anomaly.

Fortunately for the Kings, Quick could be back as soon as a month’s time. All they need Budaj to do is leave them in a position where the playoffs are still within reach upon Quick’s return. As a team, the Kings have played a strong defensive game this year, but is remains to be seen if this will continue. Budaj has been the prime benefactor of this quality defending.  He’s done a good job of holding down the fort for the Kings, but given his track record, an implosion seems imminent for Budaj.

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