Bussi signs 3-year, $5.7 million contract with Hurricanes

Brandon Bussi signed a three-year, $5.7 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. It has an average annual value of $1.9 million.

“A big thing is you look at the way our team is set up, and it’s an exciting time to be a Carolina Hurricanes fan because I think the players we have in our locker room, we have a great group and we have high goals," Bussi said. "So, in terms of the stability, we have an opportunity to do something here, and being able to lock this in, now I just get to focus on hockey and do what I can to help this team win. (That) was important to me.”

The 27-year-old undrafted goalie, who could have become an unrestricted free agent after this season, is 23-3-1 with a 2.16 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and two shutouts in 27 starts. He is tied for third in the NHL in wins and second in GAA (minimum 25 games).

Bussi earned his 21st NHL win in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 1, surpassing Andrew Hammond (20-1-2) and Bill Durnan (20-2-3) for the most by a goalie through his first 25 NHL games.

Bussi was claimed by the Hurricanes off waivers from the Florida Panthers on Oct. 5 as insurance for Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 14, because Kochetkov missed the start of the season because of a lower-body injury, and made 16 saves in a 5-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks.

Carolina announced in late December that Kochetkov would likely be out for the rest of the season because of a lower-body injury.

“It’s crazy. I think if you told me back in October, I would have been like, ‘Yeah, sure. I bet that will happen,' (signing a contract)," Bussi said. "But I think the hockey world can work in mysterious ways in some sense, and I’m fortunate that I got an opportunity and that Carolina sees me the same way I see myself being here. So, I’m very happy, to say the least, that I get to be here for more time.

“It’s been kind of a long process to get here. I can’t pinpoint an exact start date (for contract negotiations), because a lot of it I try to keep out of my hands. I think once things started getting more serious kind of the last little bit it intensified a little bit, and overall I’m really happy to be a Carolina Hurricane and be here for three more years.”

Bussi signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins on March 30, 2022, after playing three seasons at Western Michigan University. A native of Sound Beach, New York, Bussi was named to the 2022-23 American Hockey League All-Rookie team after going 22-5-1 with a 2.40 GAA and .924 save percentage for Boston's affiliate in Providence.

"Before we brought him to Raleigh, Brandon had been successful at every level from the USHL to college to the AHL," Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky said. "Given the opportunity at the NHL level this season, he’s 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."

The Hurricanes (36-15-6) lead the Metropolitan Division and are tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for first in the Eastern Conference. They host the Lightning in their first game after the Olympic break on Feb. 26.