Back On The Market: When Jeff Skinner<\/a> signed a one-year, $3MM deal with San Jose in free agency, it felt like one of those cases where the Sharks could give him some playing time, increase his value, and flip him for future assets at the trade deadline.\u00a0 That clearly isn\u2019t happening now after the two sides reached a mutual agreement to terminate<\/a> the remainder of his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.\u00a0 The 33-year-old notched just six goals and seven assists in 33 games this season and had been scratched for several weeks before his release.\u00a0 While he\u2019s walking away from more guaranteed money than he\u2019ll get when he gets his next contract, Skinner appears to be willing to make that trade off to land either more guaranteed playing time or a chance to play with more of a contender.<\/p>\n Injury News: The Ducks won\u2019t be getting their backup goalie back to aid in their push for a playoff spot.\u00a0 Instead, Petr Mrazek<\/a> will miss the rest of the season after undergoing<\/a> hip surgery.\u00a0 The veteran is in the final year of his contract, one that carries a $4.25MM cap charge, and finishes with just ten appearances.\u00a0 Ville Husso<\/a>, who started the season as a pricey third-string option, is now the full-time backup behind Lukas Dostal<\/a>.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Filip Chytil<\/a>\u2019s rough year continues.\u00a0 After the Canucks center returned from a suspected concussion, he\u2019s now out indefinitely once more after suffering a facial fracture<\/a> in a mini-game in practice earlier in the week.\u00a0 A key part of the return for J.T. Miller<\/a> last season, Chytil has been limited to just 27 games in total since then, a number that won\u2019t be increasing for a while.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/brandon-bussi-carolina-200x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Three For Bussi: Brandon Bussi<\/a> has been one of the feel-good stories of the season.\u00a0 Claimed off waivers in training camp to serve as Carolina\u2019s third goalie despite never seeing NHL action before, he has since taken on a bigger role and won 23 of his 27 starts.\u00a0 He was rewarded for his efforts as the Hurricanes signed<\/a> him to a three-year, $5.7MM contract extension that begins next season.\u00a0 With Pyotr Kochetkov<\/a> likely done for the season with a lingering hip injury and Frederik Andersen<\/a> having some up-and-down performances, Bussi is likely to be Carolina\u2019s top netminder down the stretch.\u00a0 Meanwhile, assuming Kochetkov is able to return next season, the Hurricanes\u2019 goalie tandem will cost just $3.9MM next season, a significant bargain.<\/p>\n