Playing With House Money: Brandon Bussi's Remarkable Journey to the Stanley Cup
- Karinna Leonard
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
There were plenty of unforgettable stories to emerge from this year's NHL playoffs. From highlight-reel moments like Mitch Marner's between-the-legs goal and a wild 15-goal battle between the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild, to young teams knocking off established contenders such as the Anaheim Ducks eliminating the Edmonton Oilers, and countless Game 7s that kept fans on the edge of their seats, there was no shortage of excitement.
Yet the most remarkable story of all belonged to Brandon Bussi, a little-known goaltender who claimed Carolina's crease midway through the Stanley Cup Final series and helped backstop the Hurricanes to a championship.
Just before the start of the season, Bussi was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes from the Florida Panthers on October 5, 2025. Initially viewed as organizational depth behind Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov, Bussi's opportunity arrived sooner than expected when Kochetkov underwent season-ending surgery to address a lingering lower-body injury.
The 27-year-old netminder had spent the previous few seasons developing in the Boston Bruins organization, primarily with their AHL affiliate and briefly in the ECHL, before signing a two-way contract with the Panthers during the offseason. After losing the battle for Florida's backup role, Bussi was placed on waivers and ultimately claimed by Carolina.
After going undrafted and grinding his way through the minors, Bussi finally made his NHL debut on October 14 against the San Jose Sharks, stopping 16 shots in a 5-1 victory. From there, his rise was historic. He finished the regular season with a 31-6-2 record, a 2.47 goals-against average, a .895 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Along the way, Bussi became the fastest goaltender in NHL history to reach 20 career wins, accomplishing the feat in just 24 appearances. A month later, he signed a contract extension with the Canes on February 16, agreeing to a three-year deal with a $1.9 million AAV per year through the 2028-29 season.
To celebrate Bussi’s extension, the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation made a $10,000 donation to the Autism Society of North Carolina. The gesture reflected a cause that has long been close to Bussi's heart. Throughout his career, he has been a passionate advocate for autism awareness and acceptance, often speaking about his younger brother Dylan, who is on the autism spectrum, and the impact he has had on his life. His advocacy dates back to his time at Western Michigan University, where he frequently promoted autism awareness and inclusion.
During his final collegiate season, Bussi unveiled a custom-designed goalie mask dedicated to autism awareness. Explaining the inspiration behind the design, he pointed to the influence his brother has had on him both on and off the ice.
"I thought it would be good to have a little bit of a voice or show how much (this cause) means to me, because it was a huge part of my life growing up," Bussi said. "My brother means the world to me...So everything that I work toward is all to try and better his life in some way...It's important to understand that these are people, very smart people, and sometimes there's just a little bit of patience needed. That's what I learned from being with my brother."
For Bussi, advocacy has always been about using his platform to create greater awareness and acceptance.
"It's something that comes with the job of being an athlete; you have a bit of a bigger platform to speak about what you think is right," he said. "I will always support and talk with anybody about autism and my brother. It's something that has made me a better person...My relationship with my brother is something I wouldn't change for the world."
When he made it to the NHL, Bussi set to work on designing a new mask. As both autism research and advocacy continue to evolve, he wanted the artwork to reflect that progress. The finished mask incorporated both the puzzle piece, long associated with autism awareness campaigns, and the butterfly, a symbol that has become increasingly embraced within the autism community.
While the puzzle piece was once widely used to promote autism awareness, many advocates have moved away from the symbol because of its association with the idea that individuals on the autism spectrum are "missing a piece" and other negative historical connotations. In its place, symbols such as the butterfly have gained popularity, representing growth, change, acceptance, and the diversity of the autism spectrum.
By combining both symbols, Bussi's mask acknowledged the history of autism awareness while embracing a more inclusive and empowering vision for the future.
In addition to his visual and vocal support, Bussi partnered with Buddy Hockey Club to design a hat line, donating all proceeds during Autism Awareness Month in April to the Autism Society of North Carolina and Pucks for Autism.
The snapback features the phrase "House Money", Bussi's signature, and a butterfly. The slogan is rooted in his unlikely path to professional hockey and the perseverance that carried him there. According to John Osei-Tutu, his agent, the phrase originated from Bussi's father, who said, "John, you've done everything we could have asked for. He got a scholarship to college. We're just playing with house money now."
The expression has since become a personal mantra for Bussi, serving as a reminder of both how far he has come and the opportunities he never expected to have.
After years of hard work, Bussi received the ultimate opportunity, and proof of how far he had come, when he was called upon in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Tasked with a daunting assignment, Bussi entered in relief of starter Frederik Andersen to start the third period. In his first NHL playoff appearance, he stopped 18 of 19 shots and posted a .947 save percentage. Although Carolina ultimately fell 5-4 in double overtime, Bussi's performance provided a spark, and the team would not lose another game in the series.
The Hurricanes turned to him again for Games 4, 5, and 6, and he rewarded their faith. Across his four appearances in the Stanley Cup Final, Bussi stopped 81 of 87 shots, recording a 1.60 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.
His first NHL season reached its perfect conclusion in Game 6, when he made 22 saves in a 3-0 shutout victory to secure the Stanley Cup for Carolina. Exactly eight months to the day after making his NHL debut, and less than a year after being claimed off waivers, Bussi had backstopped the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup championship since 2006 and just the second in franchise history.
Hurricanes defenseman and veteran Jaccob Slavin praised Bussi's performance afterward, saying, "Unbelievable. He played so (well). We don’t win that game tonight without him. He made some awesome, timely saves. He stepped in. We wouldn’t be here without him, even throughout the beginning of the year, too. He played unbelievably and couldn’t be happier for what’s come his way."
After the Game 6 victory, Bussi reflected not on his own accomplishment, but on the people who helped him reach the moment, saying, "It's almost more rewarding for all the people I know, all the people who have supported me, rooted for me, been there for me."
For a player who went undrafted, climbed his way through the minor leagues, and continues to use his platform to advocate for causes larger than hockey, the response was fitting, but no less meaningful. Even after reaching the sport's highest peak, Bussi's focus remained on the people who helped him along the way.
Yet his story does not end here. As he enters next season, Bussi has a new goal: making the game accessible enough for his brother Dylan to attend. While the loud, overwhelming environment of a hockey arena can present challenges for individuals on the autism spectrum, Bussi remains optimistic that efforts by organizations such as Pucks for Autism can help make the game more welcoming and accessible.
Speaking about the possibility of Dylan one day watching him play in person, he said, "I'd love for it to work out. It would be a whole process with some of his limitations, but I'd tell anyone with autism who is going out there, just be you. We want everybody to feel welcome in any community, in sports or at work. I want everyone in everything. And it would be such a goal of mine absolutely in the future to have [my brother] in the building and experience all of this journey with me."
With a Stanley Cup ring, a new contract, and Carolina's confidence moving forward, the goalie who once viewed every opportunity as house money now enters the next chapter of his career with a championship forever tied to his name.
Edited by: Kelly Cassette