The Carolina Hurricanes are heading into next season with the same tandem in net as the prior year.

Frederik Andersen signed a one-year extension during the playoffs and Pyotr Kochetkov is still under contract for two more seasons.

The pair both had strong stretches of play last season, finishing with a combined 40-24-4 record, but each also finished the regular season with a save percentage below 0.900.

However, the Canes did at least have one of the stronger postseason performances in net... at least through the first two rounds.

Andersen, 35, once again dealt with a midseason, long-term injury as the veteran had knee surgery in November, sidelining him for approximately three months. 

It was the second straight season that the Danish goalie played fewer than 25 games and the third straight season in which he played less than half the season.

However, when he's been healthy, he's been a very consistent netminder and Andersen is hopeful he can be available moving forward following the knee surgery.

 "The ultimate goal is just to be available," Andersen said in his end-of-season exit interview. "I know I can play at a high level when I am and I think that's definitely the goal. To be able to just have a good offseason and come back as good as possible. To be healthy and set myself up to have a chance to play."

Kochetkov, 26, played more games in 2024-25 than he had in any prior season (47) and again showed that he's capable of being a high-level goaltender in this league.

However, the biggest thing he still struggles with is consistency, for as good of stretches as he has, he also has some pretty tough stretches as well.

Perhaps the sheer amount of games that Kochetkov had to play this season also played a part in the slip in play.

The Russian goalie had a 0.907 save percentage before his final seven appearances of the season. He also played through a finger injury for a good portion of the year and that I'm told required minor surgery this offseason.

So how will these two split the load this upcoming season?

I truly believe that the team will aim for a true 50/50 split for as long as they can manage it.

When both Andersen and Kochetkov were healthy, the Canes consistently rotated each game between the two netminders and this season should be no different.

The team is a huge proponent of alternating the net, especially with how much wear and tear their goaltenders have seemingly collected over the years.

Not allowing any one guy to build up too much stress with consecutive games gives the Hurricanes a better chance of keeping each guy healthy and ultimately ready for the postseason.

The Carolina Hurricanes have been a franchise cursed with poor goaltending health, having had to use multiple goalies every season due to injuries, so anyway they can work to avoid that is an approach I'm sure they're going to want to take.

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