Hurricanes’ Brandon Bussi’s success proves development isn’t always linear
The Carolina Hurricanes are spending another season at or near the very top of the Eastern Conference standings, but they’ve done it in more of an unconventional way this season.
With Pyotr Kochetkov out for the season and veteran Frederik Andersen only recently finding his game, the Hurricanes have relied on pre-season waiver claim Brandon Bussi as their top option between the pipes.
Bussi, who made his NHL debut this season at the age of 27, delivered a stunning performance on Monday afternoon to carry Carolina to a 2-1 win over the surging Buffalo Sabres. In doing so, he became the first goalie in NHL history to earn wins in 18 of his first 22 starts.
For a goalie who turned a strong age-20 season in the USHL into a collegiate opportunity with Western Michigan that he parlayed into a run with the Providence Bruins of the AHL, Bussi is proving that development is not always linear.
On Tuesday morning’s episode of Morning Cuppa Hockey, host Jonny Lazarus and co-host Tyler Yaremchuk were joined by Bussi to discuss his breakout season and unique path to NHL success.
Jonny Lazarus: “Brandon, with that, you had a great quote yesterday in the post game, basically saying how it’ll never feel normal and this is what you dream of. I think that kind of comes with being a late bloomer, right? You were a guy who committed out of the USHL I think in your age out year. It always kind of happened later for you.”
Brandon Bussi: “I think I’ve kind of had the mindset of house money in a way. I think when I made the USHL, I made Muskegon, my track record to that point wasn’t the best, or it was good in some areas, but people probably looked at me that year and were like, ‘Why is this guy playing here? He hasn’t done enough to get this opportunity.’ And kind of from that point on, I viewed my career as been playing with a little bit of house money. Just enjoy the moment and see where it takes me. And from that point, it took me to Western Michigan for three years, and then to the Bruins organization and then to Florida for a quick stint and now here. So, while I’ve had full confidence in myself, I know I’m a good goalie. There’s probably been some people that have thought I couldn’t make it. So I don’t necessarily want to say I use hate or motivation, but I think it’s just like a perspective of everything.”
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode below…