Now, Bussi continues to stack wins – his seven victories are a franchise-best mark through a first-year netminder’s first eight career starts with the club – and the player Brind’Amour had only heard of is quickly becoming an impactful part of one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams.
“He’s just a good dude, number one. Like, I love that part of it,” continued Brind’Amour. “You can just talk to him for a couple of minutes and know, ‘Okay, this guy gets it.’ So that’s the thing that stands out. Can you stop pucks? Well, yeah, that looks like something that he’s done for us really well.”
For his part, Bussi, who was actually on his way to North Carolina to join Florida’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte when Carolina claimed him, has cruised to a 7-1-0 start on the strength of his “timely saves” and calm demeanor.
Producing such impressive performances despite not enjoying the rhythm of starts that goaltenders typically prefer, with incumbents Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov having first claim to the net, makes Bussi’s body of work all the more impressive.
“It’s not easy not knowing when your next start is. Since he’s arrived on the scene, that’s what it’s been. (He’s had) nothing but a great attitude, and at the end of the day, every start, he’s been solid. That’s exactly what you need,” said Brind’Amour.
Amid the unpredictable schedule, Bussi credits a regular routine for helping him stay sharp, whether he’s suiting up for action or sitting up in the press box.
“It’s actually a good balance of off days, getting your rest and mentally getting away from it, as well as when you come to the rink, now you’re fully mentally there and ready on the ice, because you don’t know when your next opportunity is going to be.”