Armchair GMs find it extremely difficult to complain about the Carolina Hurricanes’ offseason so far. Ignoring their old strategies Carolina made a splash in free agency signing Dmitry Orlov and Micheal Bunting. There are even reports that they are close to signing Vladimir Terasenko. The three players appear on everyone’s list of major free agents this offseason.
Carolina also re-signed captain Jordan Staal to a contract that respects the player and is team-friendly. Staal’s linemate Jesper Fast’s new two-year contract worth $2.4 million annually started to show a pattern. But it was Antti Raanta’s one-year $1.5 million deal that solidified it. The Canes started a streak of re-signing players to team-friendly contracts. This combined with free agency signings and a potential trade for Erik Karlsson leaves little argument that the Hurricanes are better on paper than they were two weeks ago.
Personally, there has only been one move by Carolina’s front office that left me scratching my head. After signing Antti Raanta to a one-year deal I assumed the team would let Fredick Andersen walk. Last season the team signed rookie netminder Pyotr Kochetkov to a four-year contract awarding the Russian sensation $2 million annually. At the time I saw it as a signal that Kochetkov would have a full-time role in Raleigh this season. Either Raanta or Andersen would play the role of 1-A to his 1-B. Both NHL veterans have proven their worth during a two-year stint with the Hurricanes.
I leaned towards Raanta who has been healthier in Raleigh and consistent when in the blue paint. Freddy has a higher upside but presented more risk in my mind. But I would also be happy with Andersen if that’s how it worked out.
Raanta signed and I was comfortable with what I assumed the team’s plan was. Then Andersen signed a two-year contract to stay in Carolina. At that moment I turned in to the “What the hell are you talking about?” gif from the Truman Show.
I want to stress that I don’t think Frederik Andersen is a substandard goalie. When he’s on, he’s a Vezina Trophy-caliber netminder. My hesitation at his signing had little to do with the player himself. It had everything to do with the return of Carolina’s three-goalie rotation.
It was a necessity of last season because of injuries to Andersen and an extended illness for Raanta. When Kochetkov wasn’t in Raleigh, he was playing for the Hurricanes’ former AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.
Now that the Wolves have gone independent where is Kochetkov going to play when he isn’t needed in Raleigh? Game action is incredibly important for a developing netminder. Does the return of Raanta and Andersen mean Kochetkov isn’t ready for the starting job? Do they expect Raanta or Andersen to get injured? These are the questions that raced through my head. Now a few days from the signings I have an answer for all of them.
Kochetkov AHL Team
There isn’t an easy fix for not having an AHL affiliate. Hurricanes prospects will be spread around North America and Europe to ensure they get enough ice time. Carolina’s ability to micro-manage their development will be dramatically diminished. If you have a goalie prospect that you think could become a star things become unpredictable. If or when the Hurricanes sent Kochetkov down to the AHL, whichever team accepted him would likely give the Hurricanes’ prospect goalie fewer games than their own. You can’t blame them for it either. It’s not their job to develop a rival’s talent.
“I have a couple of options already,” Waddell said during a media availability on the first day of free agency. “You know he’s not going to play every game. – If we get into a spot where the other two guys are playing well and healthy and we need to find Pyotr some games for a while it’s not going to be a problem.” On the surface, Waddell looks calm and ready to get Kochetkov game action whenever needed.
You might be thinking. Okay, but how can we be sure Kochetkov actually plays when he’s in the American League? The real answer is we can’t. Although, why would a team agree to host him if they don’t have a need for him? Minor league teams, just like NHL teams want to win. No one likes being the one left standing when the music stops. Waddell is planning for AHL teams that don’t have a grade-A goalie prospect to jump at the opportunity to host a talent like Kochetkov. Unfortunately, we won’t know if it works until it’s too late.
Trust in Kochetkov
“Kochetkov is real close, maybe ready to play right now,” Waddell said about the 23-year-old goalie. Using that logic, why did the team resign the two veterans? If you listen to Waddell it’s because he can afford to. Kochetkov’s $2 million, Raanta’s $1.5 million, and Andersen’s $2.4 million contracts are worth a total of $6.9 million. Or only seven percent of the team’s salary cap. Teammates Sebastion Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Dmitry Orlov all receive higher salaries than Carolina’s three goalies combined. Three other NHL goalies make more than $6.9 million a season alone. And the majority of teams will spend more than that just for their starter and backup. Yet, Carolina can afford all three goalies they feel make their organization the hardest to score against.
Moreover, Antti Raanta only received a one-year contract, which indicates the Canes believe Kochetkov will live in Raleigh full-time by 2024. The team has delayed the young goalie’s promotion, for sure. But long term they see Pyotr Kochetkov as their future.
Injury Risk
“You never know how things are going to go,” Don Waddell said. “[It was] very rare this year that [all three goalies] were all healthy at the same time. There might have been a few days here or there.” It might just be a case of ‘if it ain’t broke’ when it comes to Carolina’s netminders. In 2022 Andersen and Raanta won the Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals in the league. Last year they finished second. Only the Boston Bruins who had a historical regular season allowed less.
It’s true that both goalies have a history of unfortunate injuries. Their normal risk of watching games from the press box is higher than fans want. It almost feels safe to assume one of them will miss a significant portion of the season. From the Hurricanes’ perspective, there isn’t a real reason to roll the dice on something new. Even if it just means allowing one of your goalies to leave. Instead, they’ve created an insurance policy. There’s no need for either thirty-plus-year-old goalie to worry about rushing back if Kochetkov is keeping the blue paint clean for them.
If it happens this season it won’t be the first time. Last season Kochetkov’s high level of play gave Freddie Andersen ample time to recover before the playoffs.
Conclusion
It still feels like a strange choice to bring all three goalies back. But I understand what the front office was aiming for. For now, my worries about Kochetkov’s development will have to wait until we see what AHL team he lands with. His future remains bright in Carolina and there is no real reason to stress about an injury for the returning veterans. Of course, we don’t want to see anyone get injured but if Kochetkov is the one stepping in their place I won’t lose sleep about it. As a whole Carolina’s offseason is shaping into one of, if not the most impressive in the franchise’s history. Even if their goalie situation turns me into a paranoid reality TV star.
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