Hurricanes’ Brandon Bussi to Make NHL Debut Against Sharks
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi will make his National Hockey League debut tonight, October 14, 2025, when his team faces the San Jose Sharks.
Bussi, 27, earned the start after being claimed off waivers by the Hurricanes on October 5th and with Pyotr Kochetkov sidelined due to a lower-body injury. The 2023 AHL All-Star has 111 games of experience at the American Hockey League level. Tonight’s game presents a significant opportunity for Bussi to prove himself at the highest level of professional hockey.
Alongside Bussi, defenseman Mike Reilly is also set to play his first game with the team as a free-agent signing from July 1st, stepping into the lineup with Jaccob Slavin out due to a lower-body injury. “He went for some more testing. I think we’re just going to keep him out for a while,” Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said following morning skate. “I don’t think it’s super serious, but he doesn’t quite feel right. So, for right now, he’s not on this trip.” The Hurricanes have also recalled Charles Alexis Legault from the Chicago Wolves to provide additional depth on defense, and Mark Jankowski will make his season debut on the forward lines.
The Hurricanes’ projected lineup includes forward lines of Ehlers-Aho-Jarvis, Svechnikov-Stankoven-Blake, Martinook-Staal-Carrier, and Robinson-Jankowski-Hall, with defensive pairings of Miller-Walker, Nikishin-Gostisbehere, and Reilly-Chatfield. Frederik Andersen will serve as Bussi’s backup in net. You can find more information about the Carolina Hurricanes on the official NHL website. For a deeper dive into hockey statistics and analysis, visit Hockey-Reference.com.
Slavin’s absence and Kochetkov’s injury mean the Hurricanes will continue to evaluate their depth as they begin a six-game road trip.
