Pyotr Kochetkov wasted little time in establishing his credentials upon his arrival to the NHL during the 2021-22 season. The Russian netminder was a winner in each of his first three games. He became just the second goalie in franchise history to do so, the 11th NHL goalie to win his first three games in a span of four days and the first goalie ever in the NHL to post wins in his first three games in which all were played on the road.

Kochetkov was equally impressive when making his Stanley Cup bow. Taking over for an injured Antti Raanta in the second period of Game 2 of Carolina’s 2022 Eastern Conference opening-round series against the Boston Bruins, Kochetkov would turn aside 30 shots in leading the Hurricanes to a 5-2 victory. At 22 years and 313 days of age, Kochetkov was the third-youngest goalie to make his Stanley Cup debut in franchise history.

That same spring, Kochetkov went 5-1, with a 1.65 GAA and a .950 save percentage in leading the Chicago Wolves to an AHL Calder Cup title. During regular-season play with the Wolves, he posted a 2.09 GAA and .931 save percentage while going 13-1. 

Kochetkov set a franchise rookie mark with a shutout sequence of 151:16 in December of 2022. That month he went 7-0-1 with a 1.63 GAA and .939 save percentage, earning NHL rookie goalie of the month. Kochetkov was the first Hurricanes rookie netminder to win seven games in a calendar month. One month earlier, he’d made 27 saves in a 3-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov, 14, 2022 for his first NHL shutout.

Still qualified as an NHL rookie during the 2023-24 season, Kochetkov was named the goalie on the NHL All-Rookie Team. His 23 wins set a franchise rookie record. Kochetkov finished fourth in Calder Trophy voting. His 2.33 GAA led all rookie netminders and was second overall among all NHL goalies. He also led all rookie netminders with four shutouts. Among his four shutouts was a 45-save performance in blanking the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Kochekov’s .911 save perceange was second among rookie puckstoppers.

Kochetkov first served notice of his NHL-caliber potential playing for Russa at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship. He went 4-1 during the tournament as the Russians won the bronze medal. Kochetkov finished with an impressive 1.45 GAA and .953 save percentage.