Carolina Hurricanes' Pyotr Kochetkov Should Be Team's Starting Goaltender in 2024-25 – Hockey Writers – Carolina Hurricanes

As we approach the 2024-25 regular season, questions will arise as the days pass. The Carolina Hurricanes have a few questions going into the upcoming season, especially with the forward team and Seth Jarvis' contract negotiations. However, there is one position group that is being overlooked when looking at the schedule for the 82-game campaign. While the team and fans know the goaltending position is well set with Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov, the real question remains, who starts, or 1A, in the tandem?

Kochetkov Makes Offense as 1A Starter

Coming into the season, there needs to be a sense of urgency from the Hurricanes about the future of their goaltending. While Andersen has been with the team since joining as an unrestricted free agent before the 2021-22 season, he has never played a full season in Carolina. He's been plagued by injuries or issues with blood clots in his three seasons. Despite those odds, he has been strong in his presence. As for Kochetkov, it may be time to hand over the keys to the 25-year-old Russian netminder.

In the 2023-24 season, Kochetkov finished with a 23-13-4 record with a .911 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.33 goals-against average (GAA) in 42 games (40 starts). The Hurricanes and head coach Rod Brind'Amour are leaning heavily on him for most of the season with Andersen out with blood clots and Antti Raanta struggling in net. In addition, he showed last season that he can pick up the bulk of the starts while also being a reliable backup who serves as the number two or 1B.

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Kochetkov will enter the second year of his four-year contract with the Hurricanes in November 2022. The average annual value of $2 million (AAV) is still one of the most reasonable deals for new netminders in the NHL. Conversely, Andersen's $3.4 million AAV will come off the books at the end of the season, giving the Hurricanes more cap space next season to find another backup for Kochetkov. While we're still a long way from seeing who the Hurricanes will pair up with next season in Penza, Russia, it makes sense to know that the net will soon be his.

As the 2023-24 season progressed, it became very clear that Kochetkov could be the Storm's go-to guy heading into the 2024-25 season and beyond. He was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month in February and proved to be the best rookie goaltender this season overall. Last season, he finished tied for the league lead among all rookie pitchers with 23 wins and four shutouts. To show just how impressive he was, Kochetkov finished with an Eastern Conference-leading .911 SV% among all rookie goaltenders.

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When asked what Kotchetkov is like as a netminder, Brind'Amour said, “We knew the talent was there. We realized on the first day that he was something special, but he's still a little kid. Time consuming.”

The 2022 Calder Cup Champion and Chicago Wolves know what it takes to win and the hope is to replicate that against the Hurricanes. Yes, he's young, however, not many 25-year-old pitchers can claim to have won 38 games in their 65 starts (69 games played) and thrown a career .910 SV% and 2.37 GAA in eight shutouts. There's a case to be made for going with Andersen as the main starter since he played in 10 of the Hurricanes' 11 playoff games during the 2024 playoffs. In addition, he posted a .932 SV% and 1.84 GAA with a 13-2-0 record in 16 games. But, Andersen will be 35 years old and has been prone to long-term injuries in the past three seasons, except for last season due to blood clotting, not injury, reasons. That said, it's time to run with Kochetkov as the big (1A) starter for next season.

Decisions, Decisions of Brind'Amour

Either way you look at it, Brind'Amour and his staff will make a decision they think will be best for the Hurricanes in net for the 2024-25 season. They know they will have Andersen and Kochetkov on opening night on Oct. 11 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, they don't know how long one or both of those guys will stay healthy. They have depth in the American Hockey League with the Wolves if something happens.

Hopefully, nothing does, but that safety net is there. It wouldn't be surprising if Kochetkov repeats his performance from last season from December to the playoffs and cements his position as the Hurricanes netminder of the future. This season will be one to watch when it comes to the team's goaltenders and a slightly revamped blue line with the addition of Sean Walker and Shayne Gostisbehere.