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Brandon Bussi of the Carolina Hurricanes is introduced prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils at Lenovo Center on October 09, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina.<\/p>\n
Jared C. Tilton<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
Raleigh<\/p>\n
One of the best stories in the NHL this season just got better.<\/p>\n
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi has been given a three-year contract extension that will pay him an average of $1.9 million a season, the team announced Monday.<\/p>\n
The Canes also said the team will make a $10,000 donation to the Autism Society of North Carolina. Bussi\u2019s younger brother, Dylan, has autism and Brandon\u2019s goalie mask is a tribute to Dylan and meant to raise awareness.<\/p>\n
Brandon Bussi of the Carolina Hurricanes in net during the first period against the Calgary Flames at Lenovo Center on November 30, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Jaylynn Nash Getty Images <\/p>\n
Bussi has gone from a goalie placed on waivers by the Florida Panthers last October to the Hurricanes\u2019 most dependable netminder. Claimed off waivers on Oct. 5, Bussi has posted a 23-3-1 record, with a 2.16 goals-against average and .908 save percentage for the Canes, who led the Metropolitan Division at the league\u2019s break for the Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s crazy,\u201d Bussi said Monday on a media call. \u201cI think if you told me back in October, I\u2019d be like, \u2018Sure, that will never happen.\u2019 But I think the hockey world can work in mysterious ways in some sense. I\u2019m fortunate I got an opportunity and that Carolina sees me the same way I see myself being here.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very happy, to say the least, that I get to be here more time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bussi beat the San Jose Sharks, 5-1, in his NHL debut on Oct. 14 and posted his first NHL shutout Nov. 30 against Calgary. He matched a franchise record with nine consecutive wins between Oct. 30 and Dec. 19, and became the fastest goaltender in NHL history to reach 10 wins.<\/p>\n
Brandon Bussi (32) of the Carolina Hurricanes makes a save on a shot taken by Alexander Wennberg of the San Jose Sharks during the second period at SAP Center on October 14, 2025 in San Jose, California. Ezra Shaw Getty Images <\/p>\n
Bussi appeared in 111 career AHL games with the Providence Bruins, going 63-31-13, and was named to the AHL\u2019s All-Rookie Team in 2022-23. He played collegiately at Western Michigan, where he was 46-25-5 before going pro.<\/p>\n
Bussi signed with the Panthers as a free agent after last season and was driving to Charlotte to join the Charlotte Checkers, Florida\u2019s AHL team, when he was informed he had been claimed off waivers by Carolina. The Canes had placed goalie Cayden Primeau on waivers with the purpose of sending him to the AHL Chicago Wolves, taking Bussi in case Primeau was claimed \u2014 which he was, by Toronto.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to break into the league and sometimes different opportunities pop up in different ways,\u201d Bussi said. \u201cMine happened in a way that doesn\u2019t happen for a lot of people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of good hockey players out there and things happen for a reason. That\u2019s kind of been my motto, and I\u2019m very fortunate it gets to happen here for longer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brandon Bussi of the Carolina Hurricanes is seen in the net during the warmups against the Calgary Flames at Lenovo Center on Sunday in Raleigh. Jaylynn Nash Getty Images <\/p>\n
Bussi has emerged as the Canes\u2019 top goalie, teaming with veteran Frederik Andersen. Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov underwent what might be season-ending surgery in late December.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore we brought him to Raleigh, Brandon had been successful at every level from the USHL to college to the AHL,\u201d Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said in a statement. \u201cGiven the opportunity at the NHL level this season, he\u2019s proven to be a winner here, too. We are thrilled that he will continue to provide a steady presence in the crease for this team into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, Bussi has a new contract and considerably more financial security.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have the potential to do some very exciting things here over the next few years,\u201d Bussi said. \u201cIt felt like a no-brainer when this became an option to explore and make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
This story was originally published February 16, 2026 at 2:52 PM.<\/p>\n