The Carolina Hurricanes have had an injury-laden season. From the perpetual spin of the defensive carousel to the continuous shuffle in the forward lineup, the Hurricanes haven’t been able to catch a break.
One of the biggest absences impacting them was in the crease, as Pyotr Kochetkov’s nagging injury led him to undergo a season-ending hip surgery, which effectively removed him from the lineup. However, news from Russia hints that the Hurricanes netminder could return sooner than initially expected.
In a recent interview with RB Sport, Alexander Chernykh of the WINNERS agency, which represents Kochetkov in Russia, provided an update on his status.
According to Chernykh, Kochetkov has already undergone surgery, and they are monitoring his recovery.
“We might see him in the playoffs”, he said via translation. “But that’s purely hypothetical for now.”
Chernykh was cautious to avoid revealing more details than necessary, but he highlighted the concern of playing through injuries.
“A goalie needs to return in optimal form to be an asset. There have been cases where goalies played injured, without being fully healed, and it impacted their entire career later on.
“So, if all goes well, [Kochetkov] could play in the playoffs, but these are all just projections for now.”
Despite the injury and withdrawal from the lineup to address it, Kochetkov played exceptionally well in his nine appearances this season. With a 6-3-0 record, including a shutout, he registered a goals against average of 2.33 and a save percentage of .899.
An early return would be great to see, but a complete recovery before he’s thrown into the fray would be ideal.
