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Player outlooks · G · CAR

Brandon Bussi

Consensus #164 · G23 · tier 7Week 5: 3 gamesUpdated Oct 26

Bussi is the Stanley Cup-winning goalie sharing Carolina's crease with Pyotr Kochetkov, and he has been shaky this season, so his share of starts is the open question.

Role

He is half of a rotating tandem with Kochetkov. Daily Faceoff's player page (read 26 October) says the Hurricanes lean toward alternating the two. It also says Carolina used Kochetkov in four of five games before Bussi's Oct. 22 start in Edmonton. I did not find a published start-share number. I did not read a current Daily Faceoff goalie depth chart. I could not confirm whether Frederik Andersen is still on the roster, and that would affect who competes for starts. Skater line and power-play details do not apply to a goalie.

The case for

He was a Stanley Cup champion last season, and Daily Faceoff says he began his rookie season with a 31-6-2 record. He opened 2026-27 with 19 saves on 20 shots in a 1-0 overtime loss to Florida. Daily Faceoff's Oct. 2 note said it was hard to question coach Rod Brind'Amour going back to him after that start. He plays behind a team that has been a playoff-caliber club, and the reporting still describes a tandem rather than a demotion.

The case against

He has not repeated last season's results. Daily Faceoff (Oct. 22) puts him at a 2.98 GAA and .882 save percentage through five games (2-2-1). It also says Carolina leaned on Kochetkov for four of the previous five games. ESPN's blurb, which I could not date, says he is slipping in the battle for playing time and had started two of the last six games. His .950 opener was followed by a five-goal game against Washington.

Where analysts split

The question is whether Bussi stays in a near 50/50 split or Kochetkov takes over as the main starter. Daily Faceoff's Oct. 2 and Oct. 6 notes expect alternation. The Oct. 22 note and ESPN's blurb point to Kochetkov getting more of the work while Bussi struggles.

Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.

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Brandon Bussi fantasy outlook: G, CAR · Fantasy Memo