How Brandon Bussi’s philosophy prepared him to seize his Stanley Cup Final opportunity
“I can’t believe you guys just did that to me on TV.”
That was an emotional Brandon Bussi, reacting to the dream-come-true footage of his mom and dad cheering him on in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. The enormity of the triumph – his first career playoff start resulting in his first career Stanley Cup Final win – and the appreciation of his parents’ support were overwhelming as Bussi spoke to Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas.
Karmically, the moment could not have felt more earned for the 27-year-old goaltender. And not merely because Bussi earned his way to this privileged juncture with his play and perseverance, but because of the collaborative, dignified approach he has taken since joining the Carolina Hurricanes this past October.
The path to starring for them in Tuesday night’s series-tying road victory over the Vegas Golden Knights was circuitous to say the least. Bussi was no blue-chipper as an undrafted player. He ground it out with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL in his junior days and earned a spot in the NCAA with Western Michigan University, helping the school win the first NCAA tournament game in its history in 2021-22, and was scooped up by the Boston Bruins after he forewent his senior year to go pro.
After some brief work in the ECHL, Bussi delivered four seasons of outstanding play with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, particularly in the playoffs. But his shot in the NHL never came with Boston as he was blocked by the dynamite tandem of Jeremy Swayman and 2022-23 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark. Bussi signed with the Florida Panthers in the summer of 2025, was waived in early October, and was scooped up by the Canes.
They had no idea at the time how much they’d need him, of course. But when Pyotr Kochetkov battled nagging health issues that eventually cost him his regular season and Freddie Andersen struggled to find his early-season rhythm, Carolina turned to Bussi – four times apiece in October and November, but 16 times between November and December as he gained momentum. There he was, having waited for his opportunity so long that he didn’t even qualify as a rookie anymore, and he seized it. We know the story by now: Bussi became the fastest goaltender in NHL history to win 25 games. His heater earned the Canes’ trust with a three-year, $5.7-million contract extension during the Olympic break in February.
It was a life-changing moment for Bussi, but, coincidentally or not, his performance nosedived in the ensuing stretch of games. Bussi posted an .865 save percentage in 12 appearances after inking his new deal, and Andersen wound up not only taking back the starter’s chair to open the postseason but also flourishing, staking a strong case for the Conn Smythe Trophy after three rounds as Carolina punched its first Cup Final ticket in 20 years. But Bussi didn’t sulk. He viewed any goalie’s success on the team as shared winning. That was apparent when he spoke during Media Day last week before Game 1 of the Final. At the time, Bussi was a backup with no sense that he’d see any action in the series, and he was at peace.
“As of right now, I just work hard in practice, keeping myself ready and doing what I can to make sure the guys stay ready in case something happens,” he said at the time.
Perhaps Bussi’s goalie-as-collective mentality came from his time in the Bruins system, during which he was exposed to the great friendship between Swayman and Ullmark, who celebrated each other’s wins with big, demonstrative hugs in their goalie gear. Bussi had taken a similar approach to his bond with Andersen, a man he respects immensely, throughout the 2025-26 postseason.
“He’s got so many strengths, right?” Bussi told Daily Faceoff last week. “But the biggest thing I noticed is his ability to manage his emotions during the game as well as during the course of a season. And that really gets highlighted during playoff time, specifically when we’re on the road. The crowd gets loud: how do you manage that, how do you keep cool? And that calmness and that presence that he brings, you can feel it as it radiates and it gives us even more confidence. So it’s a big thing that has been the reason why he’s been so successful in his career and why he’s having so much success right now.”
Even though Andersen had stolen back the starting job, Bussi never viewed him as an antagonist. The two were closer to a hive mind than a pair of rivals pushing each other.
“We learn from each other and assess it, and I think we are highly supportive of each other,” Bussi told Daily Faceoff. “He’s doing his job, the team’s winning, we’re all happy. We have one collective goal between him and me, and as a group. That’s what a family-oriented team we are. I feel like people might think when we say how close we are as a group and what it’s like in the locker room, we’re just lying to play it up. But it’s not [a lie]. We’re just like, ‘This is who we are.’ So it’s fun to be a part of.”
Perhaps that mentality primed Bussi to succeed, first when he entered Game 3 of the Final and almost keyed a comeback from 4-0 before the Canes fell in overtime on a fluky bounce off the boards behind Bussi’s net, and again in Game 4 Tuesday night. Relieving Andersen, who was scratched altogether for a physical and perhaps mental break, Bussi had the mindset not of a competitor trying to make the most of his chance, but of someone trying to pick a friend up. You can see it in Bussi’s aggressive, battling style.
Rather than a reclusive, enigmatic presence doing his own thing like the goalie stereotype, Bussi is animated, high in his crease, battling in front of the net, functioning like part of the team, and backing up what he said last week.
He’s the first undrafted goalie ever to have his first playoff start come in a Cup Final game. He’s the first right-catching goalie to win a Cup Final game since Tom Barrasso in 1992. None of it felt possible a week ago, but Bussi’s philosophy set him up to succeed.
Does that mean Bussi has earned the net for Game 5, too? It’s debatable. His goals saved above expected per 60 at 5-on-5 through his 105:26 of action is 0.228, 10th among 25 goalies who have seen action this postseason and right behind Andersen at ninth. But Bussi hasn’t been so dominant that the door is slammed shut for Andersen should he feel ready to return.
Whatever choice coach Rod Brind’Amour makes, expect Bussi to take it in stride. Whether he’s between the pipes or parked on the bench, he’s embraced a team-first mantra.
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POST SPONSORED BY bet365
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