Carolina Prospects in the NCAA and USHL for 2022-23 Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTkzOTUzNzY4NzMwMDExMzEz/usatsi_19480951.jpg] It seems as if at least one goaltender will be staying in Carolina for quite some time. The Carolina Hurricanes opted to solidify the future of their crease on Wednesday morning, agreeing to terms with netminder Pyotr Kochetkov on a four-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $2 million. The details of the deal, which now ties Kochetkov to Carolina through the 2026-27 season, such as its salary structure or the inclusion of any trade protection have yet to be determined. Previously set to hit restricted free agency this summer, Kochetkov's new deal now affords him quite the level of job security as the Hurricanes' crease prepares to undergo changes following this season. It's not exactly a shock that the Hurricanes would move so swiftly to lock Kochetkov up. The 23-year-old has performed admirably for the club despite being thrown into a number of exceedingly difficult situations in recent years, posting a .914 save percentage in four starts this season with Frederik Andersen on the shelf while also seeing three games of action down the stretch last season and even being forced into Carolina's net at times during the 2022 playoffs. Given his mere seven total games of regular season NHL experience to this point, signing Kochetkov long-term is undoubtedly a gamble. But it's a calculated one, with Kochetkov posting save percentages of .921 and .911 during his time in the AHL over the past two seasons, respectively, all while showing himself capable of handling the pace of the North American professional game. Not to mention, Kochetkov now becomes the only goaltender signed to an NHL contract beyond this season in the Hurricanes organization. With Andersen and Antti Raanta both set to become free agents at the end of the year, Kochetkov could very likely slide into a full-time job with the big club next season, perhaps even adopting a 1B-type role. If that indeed happens and Kochetkov continues to establish himself as a big-league goaltender, a $2-million price tag for the next four years will turn into a bargain very quickly.
