After placing netminder Antti Raanta on waivers Saturday, the Carolina Hurricanes have recalled goalie prospect Yaniv Perets from his loan to the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals.
With Raanta on waivers, the Hurricanes had to find a goalie to back up starter Pyotr Kochetkov for Sunday’s game against the Washington Capitals. Unlike every other NHL club, the Hurricanes do not currently have an AHL affiliate. As a result, the team’s organizational depth at the goalie position is notably thinner than just about every other franchise.
The Hurricanes only have four goalies under contract: Perets, Raanta, Kochetkov and the injured Frederik Andersen. That lack of depth isn’t an issue when three of those goalies (the latter trio of names listed) are all performing up to their expected capabilities, but so far this season Andersen has been injured and Raanta has struggled immensely.
That has left the Hurricanes in a rather precarious position in net, as they don’t have a goalie ready and waiting in the AHL to be recalled if necessary. As a result, they’re forced to turn to a goalie playing in the ECHL with just 11 total professional games played under his belt.
That’s not to say Perets, 23, is not a promising netminder. The 23-year-old was a star in college hockey, backstopping Quinnipiac University to a men’s hockey national championship last season. He’s a two-time Hobey Baker award finalist, a two-time second-team All-American, and a two-time ECAC goalie of the year.
The Hurricanes simply need goaltending that will allow them to win games, first and foremost. Perets had no issues winning in college, posting an unbelievable 56-9-5 record with a .935 save percentage. He’s also been decently successful in the ECHL with a .916 save percentage to start his career.
Is he likely to be NHL-ready after just 11 professional games? No, that’s probably a stretch. But although the Hurricanes’ affiliate situation has somewhat backed the club into a corner in terms of their goaltending situation, Perets himself is a respectable goalie prospect who very well could become a legitimate NHLer down the line.
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