Through three preseason games, the Carolina Hurricanes’ clearest question mark is in net, and it centers on Pyotr Kochetkov. In his two appearances, he has allowed 11 goals, including six on 34 shots against the Florida Panthers and five on 28 shots against the Nashville Predators in Greensboro. That works out to an .823 save percentage, and while it’s still only the preseason, the results have been rough enough to keep the spotlight on him.
The concern is sharpened by the situation around him. With Frederik Andersen moving on to oilier pastures in Edmonton, Kochetkov is carrying a lot more responsibility now, and health matters almost as much as performance. He played just nine games last season before hip surgery sidelined him until the start of the playoffs, so availability may be just as big a worry as what he’s shown in camp.
What makes Kochetkov frustrating is the inconsistency. At his best, he can make tough stops look routine and keep a game under control.
At his worst, he opens the door for an opponent that shouldn’t be getting back into the mix at all. Carolina has seen both versions, and that was easier to live with when there were more options.
Now the cushion is gone, and he still isn’t giving fans much reason to feel settled.
Brandon Bussi is still the probable opening-night starter. His relief appearance in the Stanley Cup Final bought him more time, and he has looked fine in the preseason.
After him, the depth chart gets messy. Cayden Primeau is probably the third-string option on paper, and he has looked excellent in both preseasons he has spent in Carolina.
That alone doesn’t guarantee anything in the regular season, but it is worth noting. He also played in the NHL last season for the Toronto Maple Leafs and posted a winning record.
He’s a usable option if called upon, but he is not the kind of goalie most teams want leaning on for long stretches.
If Kochetkov can’t steady himself, the situation could get worse in a hurry. Primeau is not a permanent answer if Kochetkov becomes a non-option.
The Hurricanes do have goalie prospects, but none are ready for an NHL role right away. A move outside the organization is possible, though the trade market rarely offers a clean long-term solution in goal.
The waiver wire could also come into play, but Bussi’s unusual path is a reminder that the waiver wire is not exactly packed with NHL stars.
Still, the level of concern is not sky-high because of the way Carolina plays. In 2025-26, the Hurricanes allowed just over 23 shots against per game and were the league’s best at keeping pucks away from their goaltenders. That matters for Kochetkov, because preseason struggles don’t automatically carry over when the games count and the regular lineup is in front of him.
Carolina remains the league’s best shot-suppression team, and the numbers back that up. Last season, while a few teams tied for the most games allowing 20 shots or fewer with three games, the Hurricanes did it seven times.
Roughly 10% of their games featured the opponent finishing below 20 shots. That kind of structure gives a goalie room to breathe and time to find his footing.
The one catch is the quality of the shots they do allow. Carolina’s high-danger chances against per 60 sat at 11.46, according to Natural Stat Trick, still among the lowest in the league.
Even so, it means a goalie in Kochetkov’s spot is often dealing with tougher looks when the pressure does arrive. That is the real reason his preseason line stands out.
For now, the issue doesn’t need a fix until it becomes one. Kochetkov could open the season sharp and push this whole conversation aside.
If that happens, the worry disappears quickly enough. Until then, it’s on him to answer it on the ice.
In Other News...
Hurricanes Suddenly Face A Seth Jarvis Problem Up Front
Seth Jarvis is already forcing the Hurricanes to think ahead, even though the season is still far off. Carolina placed the winger on the injured non-roster list as he continues his recovery from June shoulder surgery, a procedure that sent him into the summer with an obvious interruption to his normal preparation.
For a team that leans on Jarvis for pace and pressure up front, the absence creates an early lineup puzzle. The Hurricanes are already weighing how to reshape their forward group while he rehabs, and the timing leaves open the possibility that he could be unavailable well into the first half of the 2026-27 season. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Just Sent A Clear Message About Pyotr Kochetkov
The Hurricanes made their intentions plain with Pyotr Kochetkov, locking up the goaltender on a two-year extension that keeps him in the organization through the next chapter of their crease plans. Kochetkov has already put in five professional seasons in North America and was part of the Chicago Wolves Calder Cup championship run in 2022, a reminder that Carolina has seen enough to believe in both his talent and his trajectory.
The deal also gives the Hurricanes some cost certainty on a position that can shape an entire season, especially as they continue to sort out what the long-term picture looks like behind the bench and in net. The contract carries specific salary and signing bonus figures for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons, but the bigger takeaway is simpler: Carolina chose now to show Kochetkov it wants him as part of the answer, not just a placeholder while the rest of the roster settles in. [Read more 🡒]