Hurricanes’ Brandon Bussi on First Season & Support in Raleigh – The Hockey Writers – Carolina Hurricanes

It’s been a whirlwind of a season for Carolina Hurricanes netminder Brandon Bussi. From being claimed off waivers before opening night to a three-year extension, it’s been a journey for the New York native. Following the morning skate on Monday (May 4), The Hockey Writers were able to chat with the netminder and get his thoughts on the extension, along with what it’s been like from the support and culture in Raleigh.

Post-Morning Skate Chat With Bus

The 2025-26 season was something of a fairytale for Bussi, who was supposed to be playing in Charlotte with the Checkers in the Florida Panthers organization. Instead, he won 31 games with the Hurricanes in his first full NHL season. When asked about his experience in Carolina and now in his first postseason, he stated, “It was a good season overall. The ultimate goal is to win as many games in the regular season to give yourself a chance to make the playoffs and a chance at the Stanley Cup. Overall, I thought things went really well, and obviously, it was a big learning experience. Playing more games and more every other day with the Olympic schedule and everything was more condensed.”

After playing in 111 American Hockey League (AHL) games, playing mostly on the weekends, it was a learning experience to have more games in a week than usual. Bussi finished the season with a 31-6-2 record, along with a 2.47 goals against average (GAA) and a .895 save percentage (SV%). He also garnered two shutouts and his first point. Bussi played a huge role for the Hurricanes, with Frederik Andersen having an up-and-down season and Pyotr Kochetkov out for most of it after hip surgery. For a guy who finished sixth in the NHL in GAA and seventh in wins, Bussi was needed for the Hurricanes to get where they are now.

When it comes to the culture with the Hurricanes, it’s known how close the team is, and when someone new joins, it’s felt right away as a welcoming group. When asked about the culture and knowing he would be in Raleigh for the next three seasons, Bussi had a smile on his face as he talked about it all. “I think since the first day I stepped into the locker room, everyone was super welcoming. You’d see how tight of a group we have, how family-like it is. We just enjoy being together and competing hard. It was pretty infectious off the rip, and knowing that it’s going to be my forever home for a while is a nice feeling. I’ve been living on one-year contracts for my whole career up to now. It obviously feels good.”

There is a ton of excitement around Bussi, as he will be with the team for the next three seasons after his remarkable debut season. For a guy who’s been working his whole life to get here and excel, Bussi was rewarded with some security and peace of mind knowing he’s a Hurricane for a while.

Outside of hockey, the support of Bussi from the team and the fanbase has been phenomenal. From the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation donating to the Autism Society of North Carolina to the fans showing love for him and his family, there is something special in Raleigh. “It’s awesome. Obviously, we have a great fanbase; they’re loud, they’re passionate. The fact that they appreciate me makes this place feel even more like home, so obviously it’s a great feeling.”

While Bussi has not played yet this postseason, make no mistake, he is in the cards for the Hurricanes whenever he is called upon. Just being here has been an experience, and there is more to come for the netminder. He will be in Raleigh through the 2028-29 season and looks to continue his strong start to his NHL career. No matter how he is used, he is one of the reasons the Hurricanes are in the playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference.