Following Carolina Hurricanes' morning practice, head coach Rod Brind’Amour addressed the media on various topics. He offered comments on Brandon Bussi and Eric Robinson when asked.
Brandon Bussi Enters His Second Season
Bussi joined the Hurricanes last season during training camp after being claimed off waivers. He had a strong performance, finishing with a 31-6-2 record, a 2.47 goals-against average, an .895 save percentage, and two shutouts. He is now entering the first year of a three-year, $5.7 million contract extension signed in February.
When asked about expectations for Bussi, Brind’Amour explained, “No different than any player… You’re looking for all of the little things for him as a goalie. Whatever the things he needs to get better at, Paulie [Schonfelder] is working with them. Just keep sharpening, and hopefully it shows in the way he plays.”
Goaltending coach Paul Schonfelder managed three goalies last season. This season, he is expected to focus on Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov, who appear to be the team's goaltending tandem.
Bussi aims to prove his performance last season was not a fluke and to contend for individual awards this upcoming season, focusing on being ready when called upon.
Eric Robinson's Opportunity on the Top Line
Robinson underwent lower-body surgery in late June, with an expected recovery of six-to-eight weeks, making him available for training camp. Seth Jarvis, who also had surgery, faces a longer four-to-six-month recovery timeline.
With Jarvis sidelined, Robinson has been skating with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov during the initial days of camp. Brind’Amour commented on this arrangement, stating, “I wouldn’t read into the line, and we know Jarvis can’t take the brunt of the practice. We’re just filling spots. But if Robbie happens to be there, we know what he can do; he can move up and down the lineup. He’s got great speed; he scored a lot of big goals. If that’s what ends up happening, maybe. I’m sure we’ll try a lot of different things if that’s how it shakes out. He has earned the right to kind of get that first look.”
Brind’Amour added, “We’re not even at that point to even be considering kind of game one, of what we’re going to look like.”
It is positive to see Robinson healthy and ready to play. The team has ample time to determine how to best replace Jarvis's role. As the Hurricanes continue their training camp and prepare for the new season, several storylines are unfolding.
Brandon Bussi and Eric Robinson Discussed by Rod Brind’Amour
Following a morning practice, Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour discussed goaltender Brandon Bussi and forward Eric Robinson. Bussi, coming off a strong rookie season where he posted a 31-6-2 record, is entering the first year of a three-year contract extension. Brind’Amour emphasized the ongoing development for Bussi, stating, "You’re looking for all of the little things for him as a goalie. Whatever the things he needs to get better at, Paulie [Schonfelder] is working with them."
On the forward front, with Seth Jarvis expected to miss time due to surgery, Eric Robinson has seen early ice time on the top line alongside Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. Brind’Amour downplayed reading too much into the line combinations at this stage, noting, "We’re just filling spots. But if Robbie happens to be there, we know what he can do; he can move up and down the lineup. He’s got great speed; he scored a lot of big goals." He added that Robinson has "earned the right to kind of get that first look." The coach concluded that the team is not yet focused on defining the lineup for game one.
