With rosters set to be finalized on Monday night, the Carolina Hurricanes made one last decision on Sunday. The team announced that they'd claimed goaltender Brandon Bussi off waivers from the Florida Panthers. However, while this move could be to secure the goalie spot at all levels, it could signal that they're expecting something else to happen on Monday.
Bussi, a 27-year-old from New York, is entering his fifth professional season after attending Western Michigan University. After a season in the USHL, Bussi joined the Bronocs in 2019. He'd go on to win 46 games in 77 appearances across three seasons. Bussi backstopped Western Michigan's first NCAA tournament win, outdueling future Sabres goalie Devon Levi and Northeastern with 30 saves.
Instead of returning for his senior season, Bussi signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins. He went year-to-year with the Bruins, having his contract renewed for one year each summer. He was named to the AHL's all-rookie team in his first full season in Providence in 2022-23 and was an All-Star the same year.
While he has been reliable in the AHL, Bussi is coming off, statistically, his worst season. He recorded a career-high five shutouts in 33 games, but Bussi posted a career-worst .907 save percentage and a 2.77 GAA in 2024-25. He signed with the Florida Panthers this offseason on a one-year contract.
As a depth addition, this feels like an okay move for the Canes. Bussi has the physical makeup you like in a goalie, standing 6'4" and catching with his right hand. However, he's yet to make an NHL appearance, so it would only be impacting the AHL team right now. I think claiming Bussi signals the likely end for another goalie, albeit against the Canes' will.
Cayden Primeau being on waivers makes him an easy claim
In a subsequent move to finalize the team's roster, the Hurricanes waived goalie Cayden Primeau for the purposes of reassignment to AHL Chicago. It's a move they had to make with Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov set to be the Hurricanes' tandem to open the season.
Primeau positioned himself to be the Wolves' starter after an excellent showing during training camp with the Canes. He appeared in two games this preseason, playing very well in both starts, including the team's only win in Nashville last weekend. He had all but locked up the team's third-string role, but that could be in serious jeopardy now.
The Hurricanes claiming Bussi seems to indicate that they think Primeau won't be a Hurricane when Monday's waiver announcement comes out. After how he played this preseason, it seems like a decent bet. There is bound to be a team interested in adding him, whether it's in the NHL or in the AHL.
Losing Primeau would feel like a decent loss for the team, but Bussi could still be a good addition. Primeau has the edge in NHL experience, seeing as Bussi hasn't made an NHL appearance yet. Still, Bussi has a good track record in the AHL, so I'm not concerned about him if he were to become Chicago's starter. He'd be a better option than some of the other ones in the system.
Of course, it's possible that we're reading too much into it and Primeau will still be in the organization by dinner time on Monday. An AHL duo of Primeau and Bussi would be interesting, though it clogs the path for prospects like Ruslan Khazheyev and Nikita Quapp. I think there's a better than 50 percent chance that Primeau is claimed, making this a good short-term move for the Canes.