Talking Goalies With Paul Schonfelder

RALEIGH, N.C. - For the first time since the 2020-21 season, the Carolina Hurricanes will enter a season without Frederik Andersen in their goaltending equation.

Andersen won 98 of his 159 regular-season games over five seasons with the team and played a critical role in their 2026 Stanley Cup Championship, highlighted by winning 13 of his 16 playoff starts, including the first eight in a row.

But with Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov under contract for the 2027-28 season, and "Freddie" reaching the end of his deal, the soon-to-be 37-year-old took his talents to the Edmonton Oilers this summer, turning the page to a new era in the crease for Carolina.

We caught up with Canes Goaltending Coach Paul Schonfelder to talk about the situation.

How different do you expect the goaltending situation to be without Frederik Andersen?

Paul Schonfelder: “Yeah, I mean, it’s a change. Obviously, just not seeing his face around here is different. He was here for quite a while, but things change, right? We’ve got two guys that we’re still familiar with. For PK, he had a year last year where he was injured for pretty much all of it. He’s going to get his chance to come in, and we have an idea of what he can do, but he’s got to take advantage of the opportunity that he has with it being just him and Bus here, and really grab hold of it.”

Is the biggest thing with him just being healthy this year?

Paul Schonfelder: “For sure. Hopefully, he got the health stuff out of the way and taken care of last year. If you’re available, you can play. Hopefully he’s over the hump on the injury stuff.”

Last year on The Storm Report, you said you believed he could still become one of the game’s elite goalies. Do you still feel that’s possible?

Paul Schonfelder: “I do. Again, obviously it’s a bit of a change not having Freddie here, but we’re super confident in the two goalies we have. It’s great that Bus was able to do what he was able to do last year. He got the final three games of the Stanley Cup Final and got the job done. That’s a huge confidence boost for him and our team. With PK, I do feel he has the ability to be an elite goalie in this league. I see the talent. But with that being said, it is his third or fourth full year here, and now it’s time to take the bull by the horns.”

Brandon Bussi’s arrival last year was incredible. Is that his baseline and what you expect from him or do you have to look at things differently?

Paul Schonfelder: “Well, if he wants to play like he played last year, I’d more than welcome that. He won 31 games. It’s all about consistency. Consistency is what we’re looking for. Last year was a special year. We haven’t really talked about trying to replicate that; we focus more on the day-by-day. The goal is for him to play as well as he did last year, on a consistent basis.”

Do you feel he was consistent for most of last year?

Paul Schonfelder: “He came in and was on fire. Then, naturally, I think later in the year, he tailed off a little bit and had some more struggles than he did when he first came to us. But then at the very end of the season, his last start of the year, on Long Island (his second start in as many days), he was unbelievable. He played really well. Every first-year goalie in the league is going to have their ups and downs, but I would say that like 90% of what he did last year was unbelievable. It was almost a fairytale story with what he was doing, right? But yeah, of course you’re going to have a little bit of a struggle. The key is when you have those struggles, they don’t last too long. I’m very excited for both guys. We have a ton of confidence in both.”

You talked several times last year about how managing three goalies was one of the most challenging things you’ve had to do in your career. How much of a relief is it to hopefully not have to do that again this year?

Paul Schonfelder: “It’s nice to hopefully not. It is what it is, right? If we have three, we have three. It’s a lot easier when you don’t. It’s one less that I have to think about and can focus on just two guys. Right now, I’m just embracing the situation and whatever happens down the road, happens.”

If there is a third goalie, as of right now, Cayden Primeau would appear to be the next in line. He’s been maybe the best goalie in the AHL over the last two years. What will it take for him to have the same success in the NHL?

Paul Schonfelder: “It’s just the opportunity, right? To be honest with you, he had a bit of an opportunity in Montreal, and I think he played some good hockey there. Like any young goalie, he tailed off a little bit, and somebody else jumped him, with Jakub Dobes coming up. But I think he's a lot better than he was in Montreal. It's just the opportunity. You've got to make sure that you play the same way you play in the American League. I thought he was one of the best goalies in the AHL last year. I watched all of his games. You just get older, more mature, and when you get the opportunity, you've got to play that same way. I think he's very capable. He's a very good goalie, but, again, a lot of it is just the opportunity to get games in the NHL."

May I ask for your thoughts on the organization's depth behind Kochetkov, Bussi, and Primeau?

Paul Schonfelder: "I think it's good. For the American League, they've got two very good and capable goalies. We just talked about Primeau, and Sawchenko is a veteran guy who has been around. Ruslan (Khazheyev) is a year older and a year better. I like what I've seen from him in camp. Hopefully he gets some games in the American League again this year. He'll obviously see time in Greensboro too. He'll continue to grow. Egor Velmakin - he's a guy coming over to North America for the first time to play pro. I think he'll probably take a big of an adjustment period, but he's a guy who has played in the KHL, so you know he's a good goalie. So, as far as our depth goes, we've always had to rely on it, and we're confident in what we have."