Kochetkov, 23, has earned a 13-5-2 record, 2.39 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and one shutout in 20 AHL games with Chicago in 2022-23, and he is one of only two AHL netminders with a goal this season, as he scored his first AHL goal while shorthanded against Manitoba on March 3. He has now registered a 26-6-3 record in his regular-season AHL career and went 5-1 with two shutouts in the 2022 playoffs to help lead the Wolves to a Calder Cup championship. The 6'3", 193-pound netminder made a career-high 41 saves in a win over the Maple Leafs on March 25, and he has now posted a 12-7-5 record, 2.44 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and four shutouts in 24 NHL appearances this season to improve to 15-7-5 in his NHL/Hurricanes career. Kochetkov ranks tied for fifth in the NHL in shutouts in 2022-23 and has matched the franchise's single-season rookie record in that category. He was also named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for December after posting a 7-0-1 record, 1.63 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and two shutouts in eight games, including the longest shutout sequence by any Whalers/Hurricanes rookie from Dec. 10-15 (151:26). The Penza, Russia, native was named Best Goaltender at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship after earning a 4-1 record, 1.45 goals-against average and .953 save percentage to lead his home country to a bronze medal. Kochetkov was selected by the Hurricanes in the second round, 36th overall, of the 2019 NHL Draft.
