Brandon Bussi’s Hurricanes debut season and support in Raleigh – Hockey Writers – Carolina Hurricanes

It’s been a whirlwind of a season for Carolina Hurricanes coach Brandon Bussi. From seeking a waiver 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), Hockey Writers was able to chat with the network’s producer and get his thoughts on the expansion, as well as what it’s been like in support and culture in Raleigh.

Post-Morning Skate and Bus Discussion

The 2025-26 season was legendary for Bussi, who was supposed to play 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 said, “It was a good season overall. The main goal is to win a lot of 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 very well, and obviously, it was a great experience. Playing so many games and so much every other day with the Olympics schedule was so shortened.”

After playing 111 games in the American Hockey League (AHL), mostly on weekends, it was learning to have more games per 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 had two shutouts and his first point. Bussi played a big role for the Hurricanes, Frederik Andersen had an up-and-down season and Pyotr Kochetkov had plenty of time after hip surgery. For a guy who finished sixth in the NHL in GAA and seventh in wins, Bussi was needed to get the Hurricanes to where they are now.

When it comes to the culture of the Hurricanes, it’s known how close the team is, and when a new person comes in, it feels like a welcoming team. When asked about the tradition and knowing he will be in Raleigh for the next three seasons, Bussi had a smile on his face as he talked about it all. “I think from the first day I walked into the locker room, everyone was not welcome. You will see how tight the team we have is like a family. We just enjoy being together and competing hard. It was easy to connect with each other, and knowing that it will be my permanent home for a while is a good feeling. I was living on one-year contracts and I feel good.

There is a lot of excitement for Bussi, as he will be with the club for the next three seasons after his impressive debut season. For a young man who has worked his whole life to get here and succeed, Bussi was rewarded with some security and peace of mind knowing that he was a tempest for a while.

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

Although Bussi has yet to play this offseason, make no mistake, he is on the cards for the Hurricanes whenever he is called up. Just being here has been exciting, and there’s a lot to come for the netminder. He will be in Raleigh for the 2028-29 season and looks to continue his strong start to his NHL career. Regardless of how he is used, he is one of the reasons why the Hurricanes entered the playoffs as they came out on top in the Eastern Conference.