Brandon Bussi's Unlikely Path to Carolina's Crease

Brandon Bussi posted 31 wins in 39 games during the 2025-26 season, including a record 10 victories in his first 11 NHL appearances.

The Waiver Claim That Changed Everything

Carolina claimed Bussi off waivers on October 5, 2025, one day after Pyotr Kochetkov suffered a lower-body injury during the preseason. The move came hours before final roster cuts, rerouting the 27-year-old 150 miles from Florida’s camp to Raleigh.

Rod Brind’Amour had tracked the goaltender for years yet admitted he had never watched him play live before the acquisition. Bussi entered the NHL on the opening-night roster as the backup, a scenario he described as a lifelong dream.

The Hurricanes opened with three goalies after Kochetkov landed on injured reserve, allowing Bussi to start six games during a western road trip. He recorded a 5-1 win in San Jose with 16 saves in his debut.

By early November Bussi stood at 3-1-0 with a 2.25 goals-against average. Kochetkov’s subsequent surgery in December removed any immediate competition for starts.

Record Pace and Defensive Support

Bussi reached 10 wins in 11 games on December 11, 2025, setting an NHL record for fastest start by a netminder. He added nine more wins by year-end, finishing 2025 at 13-1-1.

The Hurricanes’ shot-suppressing structure produced Bussi’s 20th win in 24 games and 25th win in 29 appearances. At the trade deadline he carried a nine-game winning streak while Carolina led the Eastern Conference.

At 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds Bussi catches right and plays an aggressive style that challenges shooters directly. His .895 save percentage and 2.47 goals-against average across 39 games reflected consistent performance behind a stingy defense.

Bussi signed a three-year, $5.7-million extension in February 2026 that guarantees NHL salary into his thirties. The deal followed his waiver-wire arrival after three-plus seasons in the Bruins organization without an NHL call-up.

Late Bloom and Contract Security

Bussi developed at Western Michigan under coaches Andy Murray and Pat Ferschweiler before signing with Boston in 2022. He posted 63 wins in 111 AHL games with Providence, ranking fourth in franchise history upon departure.

His path included Tier II junior hockey in Amarillo and strong USHL production at age 20 that opened the college door. The 27-year-old remains ineligible for the Calder Trophy, nine years older than Islanders prospect Matthew Schaefer.

Brind’Amour noted that Bussi was ready for the opportunity and has not looked back since the October claim. The netminder’s experience with success and failure at every level prepared him for NHL pressure.

Bussi retains fond memories of AHL bus rides despite preferring NHL travel and facilities. His contributions have matched the impact of other deadline acquisitions for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.