Hurricanes In Contract Talks With Top Goaltender

The Carolina Hurricanes have had on-and-off goaltending issues, mainly to do with injuries, for many years, and I believe it is part of the reason why they haven't been able to get over the hump. In general, the Hurricanes are good at limiting shots against, so the goalie's numbers never look as good as they should.

The Hurricanes have no plans on not being the top team that they are and going deep on playoff runs year after year. To do that, they have to shore up goaltending. They appear to have found a piece of their present and future off of waivers this season in Brandon Bussi.

David Pagnotta said, "The Hurricanes have engaged in contract talks with Brandon Bussi's camp." Bussi has had a great career debut in the NHL after proving himself for a number of seasons in the AHL and below in the Boston Bruins' system.

Bussi has won 19 of his first 23 starts in the NHL, never having NHL experience before this season. He has a 2.15 GAA, .909 SV%, and one shutout to go along with a 7.39 GSAx. Pyotr Kochetkov is out for the season, so all the Hurricanes have to work with is Bussi and Frederik Andersen, who has shown nothing but being near the end of his time in the NHL. He is in the last year of his deal and it looks to be Bussi and Kochetkov moving forward, even if the Hurricanes add a rental insurance piece in net this season.

The Hurricanes were able to get Kochetkov signed to a steal of a deal at $2 million AAV for four years when he was signed. He is in year three of four on that deal, but by the way Bussi has played and the options available, the team is going to have to give up more on an extension, even if it isn't long-term. The Hurricanes have more than enough money to allocate some to the crease.

There is no number revealed that Bussi might sign at, but it will be smaller if it's a 2-3 year deal, and a bit larger if it's 4+. My guess, given the lack of NHL experience, it will be a short-term deal at around $4 million AAV.