There is no doubt in my mind that Brandon Bussi has become one of the best stories of this season, both for the Carolina Hurricanes and around the league. And to think, the Canes took a flyer on him as a waiver pick-up before the season started. In almost four months, he has become the team's #1 goalie. Now, the bus will be parked in Raleigh a little longer.
The Hurricanes announced on Monday that the team had agreed to an extension with Bussi. The new deal keeps him in Raleigh for three years and will pay him $1.9 million per season. Speculation had been that they'd come to terms on a deal eventually, with today being the day that the ink finally dried on his new contract.
Bussi cut his teeth at Western Michigan before signing out of college with the Boston Bruins. He was named to the AHL's all-rookie team in 2023 and earned a chance to be a backup with the NHL club a few times. Despite this, Bussi never made an appearance with the Bruins. Instead, he played plenty in Providence, playing over 100 games in the AHL.
Stuck behind the likes of Linus Ullmark, Jeremy Swayman, and Joonas Korpisalo, Bussi signed with the Panthers this offseason. After spending training camp in Florida, he and his fiancée were making the journey to Charlotte, home of Florida's AHL team, when the Canes snatched him up off waivers. It's a good thing he was already heading this way. It's almost as if it was meant to be.
What has transpired since has been magical. Bussi has re-written team and league history. With each win, he becomes the fastest goalie to reach that mark. Bussi also tied the franchise record for the longest winning streak (9), and he sits alone in second place for the longest point streak (12). He has also been among the stingiest goalies with one of the best save percentage on high-danger shots.
Signing Bussi most likely means that the Hurricanes will enter next season with him and Pyotr Kochetkov set to be the team's tandem in the net. It also means that Frederik Andersen is likely out after his contract expires at the end of the season. As good as Bussi has been, the team is better when Kochetkov is also healthy. Plus, it checks another box for the team ahead of the offseason.
Along with Bussi signing a new deal, the team announced that the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation would make a $10,000 donation to the Autism Society of North Carolina, which is a cause close to Bussi's heart. His younger brother has autism, and Bussi brings awareness to the cause in the design of his mask.
Brandon Bussi is proof that sticking to something and working your tail off are bound to payoff. I'm sure he envisioned himself in the NHL a lot sooner than this, but he's making the most of his chance at 27 years old. He has become a fan favorite in Raleigh with his heroics. It's great that his patience is paying off. This truly an extension well-earned for Bussi.