It’s easy to spot Yaniv Perets at the Carolina Hurricanes Development Camp. Still rocking golden equipment two months removed from winning a national championship as the starting netminder for Quinnipiac’s men’s hockey team. Perets is now focused on another dream.
He admits that the high of being a national champion has already worn off as he attempts to work his way up Carolina’s goalie depth chart. No one knows where Perets will play next year now that the Canes don’t have an AHL affiliate. In Raleigh, there’s already a log jam with Freddrick Andersen and Antti Raanta both re-signing with the organization shortly into free agency. Pytor Kochetkov started his new four-year $2 million contract the same day. Earning a chance with the big team seems impossible to any mere mortal, but Yaniv Perets isn’t deterred.
“I’m taking it one day at a time. No matter what organization you play for there are going to be good goalies,” Perets said after day two of camp. “You’re not just competing with the goalies in your organization. You’re competing with goalies all around the league. It’s the NHL. Guys want to win, but it’s what you can do for the organization to help them win.”
Perets points to Carolina’s culture as a reason why he signed with the Hurricanes. He also acknowledged Rod Brind’Amour’s familiarity with him probably helped him get on Carolina’s radar. But don’t be fooled into thinking Perets didn’t earn his spot. Before putting pen to paper with Carolina, there was interest from multiple NHL organizations who wanted to add a depth piece who’s been one of the elite goalies at every level he’s played at.
It’s not a question if Yaniv Perets will be able to play in the NHL someday. The question is how fast he can get there. Three days after winning the NCAA title he signed an entry-level contract with the Hurricanes worth $775,000 per season at the NHL level or $82,500 if he spends the season in the American Hockey League.
“I think the most important thing is to compete as hard as you can every single day and always believe in yourself,” says Perets. “There are tons of great goalies out there so you just have to worry about yourself and keep chipping in every day. Come in and work hard to keep doing what you have to do to be successful at the next level.”
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