It has been a whirlwind NHL career for Pyotr Kochetkov. Entering his sixth season with the Carolina Hurricanes, long gone are the days of Kochetkov winning in his first three appearances in four days to help the team win the division in 2022, or the time he got in Brady Tkachuk's face after a diving poke check on a penalty shot. He's been around the block a few times now.
After starting 40 games in 2023-24 and finishing fourth for the Calder Trophy, Kochetkov started 47 games the following year, but his numbers took a serious hit. He finished with a sub-.900 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA, though he won 27 games. Heading into the 2025-26 season as Frederik Andersen's tandem partner, there was a legitimate chance that he could've taken over in the crease.
Kochetkov tried working through it, but surgery snatched his season
While he was on the Opening Night roster, a preseason injury prevented Kochetkov from starting right away. Instead, he was forced to sit back and wait until early November to finally get his season started. Kochetkov began with a bang, shutting out the Rangers at Madison Square Garden in his season debut, which seemed to be what was popular last season.
Kochetkov won his first four starts of the year, posting a .926 save percentage and allowing just seven goals. However, another stint on the injured list took him out of action after an excellent performance in Boston. It cost him almost three weeks before finally returning in early December. Once he was back in the lineup, he wasn't quite right.
Splitting his next four decisions, Kochetkov's numbers took a major dip. His save percentage fell below .900, while his GAA ballooned a fair amount. He still sat at a 2.33, which is very good, but it was clear that something was wrong. After Christmas, the team announced that Kochetkov had elected to get hip surgery, which likely was going to keep him out for the rest of the season.
Or so they thought. Kochetkov made two AHL rehab appearances late in the regular season before returning to Carolina, signaling he was good to go. He was supposed to start the Canes' season finale before a technical issue prevented it. Kochetkov served as the third goalie during the playoffs, but he dressed as the backup late in the Stanley Cup Final, ensuring he'd get his name on the Stanley Cup.
With surgery behind him, Kochetkov needs to break out in a contract year
Kochetkov has proven that he is a winner, as has Brandon Bussi. He has 71 wins in 125 appearances across five years. His save percentage hasn't been pretty during the last two seasons, but Kochetkov doesn't let in many goals, owning a lifetime 2.46 GAA. He'll need to capitalize on every opportunity he gets, especially as he heads into a contract year.
In the Canes' current tandem, Kochtkov is the more experienced NHL goalie, which hasn't been the case since he joined the team. However, Bussi is looked at as the presumed starter. Regardless of who gets the start on Opening Night, the Canes are going to rock with both goalies, trying to split things as much as they can.
I think that the lack of action for Kochetkov over the last nine months could help and hurt him. Sure, he played a few AHL games and was present at practices, but there is no way to mimic the intensity of NHL action. He's had ample time for his body to recover from his procedures. If he can find a way to get and stay hot early, Kochetkov will put himself in a position to get paid.
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