What a story it’s been for Carolina Hurricanes netminder Brandon Bussi. After being claimed off waivers, mere days before the start of the 2025-26 season, he has been one of the biggest storylines not just in Raleigh, but around the hockey landscape. He’s gone from talking to his idol Henrik Lundqvist on TNT to getting the “Hockey Night In Canada” towel to making one of the best “Save of the Year” to setting goalie records that might be tough to break. After 23 games into his NHL career, Bussi has more than proven that he belongs in the NHL. It’s now about being in some serious hardware conversations and earning a contract extension.
Bussi’s Case for Vezina
When it comes to the Vezina, Bussi has put himself firmly in the discussion as one of the best goalies in the NHL right now. He has a 19-3-1 record in 23 starts, giving him a 2.15 goals-against average (GAA) and a .911 save percentage (SV%). Furthermore, he has a shutout and an assist for good measure. Bussi was the fastest goalie to 10 wins (11 starts), and the fastest to 18 wins to begin a career. He is now one away from being the fastest goalie to 20 wins to begin a career, which could happen in 24 starts.
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When looking at goalies with 20 or more starts, Bussi is tied for eighth in wins with Dallas Stars’ Jake Oettinger and Anaheim Ducks’ Lukas Dostal. Compared to both of those guys, he has 19 wins in 23 starts, while they’ve done it in 33 and 35, respectively. Nothing against those two players, but Bussi has tied them in 10 fewer starts, and he was listed as the third-string goalie on the depth chart to begin the 2025-26 season.
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (James Guillory-Imagn Images)
When looking at SV%, Bussi is tied for 10th with Chicago Blackhawks’ Spencer Knight and Buffalo Sabres’ Alex Lyon. It’s an impressive number to have when playing for the Hurricanes, where they allow 25 or fewer shots regularly. In terms of GAA, he is third in the NHL behind Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy (2.13) and Colorado Avalanche’s Scott Wedgewood (2.14). Vasilevskiy has started 32 games and Wedgewood 30.
Bussi is in the top-10 in all three major categories for goalies in just 23 starts of his NHL career. Furthermore, he is .02 away from tying two-time Stanley Cup champion and Vezina Trophy winner Vasilevskiy for GAA, in nine fewer starts. Could Bussi win the Vezina Trophy? It’s hard to tell with the other goalies above him, who have had more starts. However, should he be a finalist? With how he has been playing and having a personal win percentage better than the Avalanche (.826 to .790), he should be in the final three if he keeps his stellar play going for Rod Brind’Amour’s side.
Staying in Raleigh Past 2025-26?
Now, onto the contract situation for Bussi. As of now, he’s making $775,000 and will be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1. Since Jan. 1, he has been eligible to sign an extension with the Hurricanes. He wasn’t able to before that since he signed the initial deal with the Florida Panthers. That being said, what could an extension look like for Bussi to possibly stay in Raleigh past the 2025-26 season?
It’s an interesting situation to be in since he currently has 23 NHL games under his belt, and is on one of the greatest runs to begin a career. Plus, he is making less than $800,000, and where would the pay increase go up to for 2026-27 and beyond? There is a chance the Hurricanes could give him a two- or three-year extension for around an average annual value (AAV) of $2.5 or $3 million. It just comes down to how many starts Bussi accumulates over the rest of the season and where his stats lie when it’s all said and done.
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Furthermore, with Pyotr Kochetkov entering the final year of his four-year deal and Frederik Andersen being a UFA this summer, signing Bussi to a two or three-year extension gives the Hurricanes a nice overlap in 2026-27. Even if the AAV is around $2 million per season, that’s a solid increase for Bussi after going through his first NHL season and making $775,000 on a one-year deal. Also, with the cap possibly going up to $104 million in 2026-27 and $113.5 million in 2027-28, anything between $2 to $3 million would be a win-win for both sides. Regardless of how it plays out, Bussi has earned an increase on his AAV, and the hope for Hurricanes fans is that the “Bus Driver” stays in Raleigh past this season.
When it comes down to it, Bussi has got the attention of the hockey world with his stellar play, elite skating ability, highlight reel saves, and a goalie who stays humble in the moment. Nothing feels too big for him, and he just wants to help the Hurricanes win. He is a team-first goalie and does not want to take anything for granted. At the end of the day, Bussi has earned the opportunity to be in the Vezina Trophy and contract extension conversations.
