How does Brandon Bussi’s new contract stack up against the league’s top goalies? Our latest NHL Rumor Roundup breaks down the numbers, the massive value, and why Carolina just won the goalie lottery.
The hockey world is currently fixed on the high-stakes drama in Italy, but the Carolina Hurricanes just stole the headlines with a move that will be felt long after the Olympic torches are extinguished. If you’ve been following our NHL Rumor Roundup, you know that Brandon Bussi has been the “feel-good” story of the 2025-26 season. Now, with a fresh three-year extension in his pocket, the conversation has shifted from “Who is this guy?” to “How did they get him so cheap?”
Contract Comparison: Bussi vs. The League
| Player | Team | Annual Value (AAV) | Contract Length | High-Danger SV% |
| Brandon Bussi | Hurricanes | $1.9 Million | 3 Years | .869 (2nd in NHL) |
| Ilya Sorokin | Islanders | $8.25 Million | 8 Years | .882 (1st in NHL) |
| Igor Shesterkin | Rangers | $11.5 Million | 8 Years | .847 |
| Pyotr Kochetkov | Hurricanes | $2.0 Million | 4 Years | N/A (Injured) |
| Yaroslav Askarov | Sharks | $2.0 Million | 2 Years | .835 |
Breaking Down the Value: A Bargain for the Ages
The centerpiece of today’s NHL Rumor Roundup is the sheer efficiency of Brandon Bussi’s New Contract million AAV. When you look at his underlying metrics, the numbers are staggering. Bussi currently ranks second in the entire league in high-danger save percentage (.869), trailing only the Islanders’ superstar Ilya Sorokin. Brandon Bussi’s New Contract To put that into perspective, Sorokin is earning over four times as much annually.
While Bussi is relatively new to the NHL stage with only 27 games under his belt, his record of 23-3-1 is historic. By locking him in at under $2 million per year through 2029, the Hurricanes have essentially secured a Vezina-caliber performance for the price of a backup. In a league where the salary cap is projected to jump significantly, this deal is the definition of a “salary cap steal.”
The “Sorokin Model” and Salary Cap Trends
Insiders in the NHL Rumor Roundup community often compare Bussi’s trajectory to that of Ilya Sorokin’s early years. When Sorokin first arrived, he signed a bridge deal worth roughly $2 million before exploding into a top-tier earner. However, Bussi is signing this deal as the salary cap is set to skyrocket toward $104 million and beyond by 2027.
Because Bussi’s cap hit remains flat at $1.9 million, his “value” actually increases every year the cap goes up. By the final year of this contract, he could represent one of the smallest cap-hit percentages for a starting goalie in modern history. It’s a shrewd piece of business by GM Eric Tulsky that allows Carolina to keep their expensive core of forwards together.
Goaltending Stability: The Hurricanes’ New Secret Weapon
Goaltending has long been the “missing piece” in any NHL Rumor Roundup involving a Carolina Stanley Cup run. Between the injuries to Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov, the crease has often felt like a revolving door. This extension changes that narrative completely.
With Bussi signed through 2029 and Kochetkov also under a very affordable $2 million deal, the Hurricanes now possess perhaps the most cost-effective goaltending tandem in hockey. This stability allows the team to ignore the expensive trade market for goalies—names like John Gibson or Brandon Bussi’s New Contract Darcy Kuemper—and focus their assets on adding “beef” to their blueline or another top-six scorer at the deadline.
The Heart Behind the Mask: More Than Just Hockey
One detail that has fans buzzing in this NHL Rumor Roundup is the charitable side of this deal. To celebrate the extension, the Hurricanes Foundation donated $10,000 to the Autism Society of North Carolina. This is deeply personal for Bussi, whose younger brother, Dylan, has non-verbal autism.
Bussi’s goalie mask, adorned with puzzle pieces and butterflies, serves as a tribute to his brother and a beacon for autism awareness in sports. It’s rare to see a player’s personal mission and professional success align so perfectly, making this contract a victory for the community just as much as it is for the team’s salary cap.
Conclusion
As the NHL Rumor Roundup continues to track the fallout from the Olympic break, the Brandon Bussi extension stands out as the smartest “non-Olympic” move of the month. By securing a record-breaking, elite netminder for just $1.9 million a year, Carolina has set a new benchmark for front-office efficiency. Whether Bussi can maintain this historic pace remains to be seen, but for now, the Hurricanes are laughing all the way to the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does Brandon Bussi’s contract compare to his teammates?
Bussi will earn $1.9M annually, which is slightly less than Pyotr Kochetkov ($2M) and significantly less than veteran Frederik Andersen ($2.75M), despite Bussi currently leading the team in wins.
2. Is Bussi’s high-danger save percentage really that good?
Yes! As noted in our NHL Rumor Roundup, his .869 HD SV% is second in the NHL, ranking him ahead of elite names like Igor Shesterkin and Andrei Vasilevskiy this season.
3. Does the contract include any trade protection?
Yes, the final year of the deal (2028-29) includes a 10-team no-trade clause, giving Bussi some control over his destination if the team ever decided to move him.
4. Why is his salary so low if he is winning so many games?
Because Bussi only has 27 games of NHL experience and was an undrafted free agent, he lacked the “leverage” for a $5M+ deal. He opted for security and stability over a high-risk bridge deal.
5. What is the significance of the butterflies on his mask?
The butterflies and puzzle pieces on his mask are tributes to his brother Dylan and represent autism awareness, a cause Bussi has supported throughout his entire career.
