{"id":780601,"date":"2026-07-05T12:55:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T12:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/780601\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T12:55:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T12:55:12","slug":"hurricanes-strengthen-goalie-depth-by-signing-zach-sawchenko","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/780601\/","title":{"rendered":"Hurricanes strengthen Goalie depth by signing Zach Sawchenko"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Carolina Hurricanes signed goaltender Zach Sawchenko to a one-year, two-way contract, as per their general manager Eric Tulsky\u2019s announcement on Saturday, July 4. <\/p>\n

The 28-year-old is expected to strengthen the Hurricanes\u2019 goalie depth after the departure of Frederik Andersen to the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League (NHL) Free Agency earlier this month.<\/p>\n

He will partner up with fellow goaltenders Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov, who performed quite exceptionally as backups to Andersen in the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jun 9, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) and left wing William Carrier (28) celebrate after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights during game four of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

In the Canes’ announcement shared by NHL.com<\/a> about Sawchenko\u2019s contract, Tulsky revealed that the Canadian will earn $850,000 if he plays in the NHL for the Canes or $150,000 for competing in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Chicago Wolves.<\/p>\n

His deal with the reigning Stanley Cup champions has a guaranteed $190,000 pay for the upcoming 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n

Notably, Sawchenko has played only seven games in his NHL career during the 2021-22 season with the San Jose Sharks, debuting against the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 2, 2022. He ended up with a 1-2-1 record in the league, including a .905 save percentage and a 3.35 goals-against average.<\/p>\n

Sawchenko has been a regular in the AHL since becoming a part of it for the first time in the 2019-20 season with the San Jose Barracuda. He has taken the ice in 135 games in the league with a 56-57-15 record for a .895 save percentage, 3.08 goals-against average.<\/p>\n

Apart from San Jose, he has been associated with three other teams in the AHL, namely the Chicago Wolves, Abbotsford Canucks, and Cleveland Monsters.<\/p>\n

The Wolves are the top AHL affiliate of the Hurricanes, whom Sawchenko represented during the 2022-23 season, and he is expected to do the same in the upcoming 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n

While playing for them over three years ago, he had a 17-18-3 record for a .895 save percentage, 3.10 goals-against average, and one shutout.<\/p>\n

During the 2025-26 season, Sawchenko competed in 29 games for the Monsters in the AHL, to end up with a 14-10-3 record for a .880 save percentage and a 3.05 goals-against average.<\/p>\n

What was the career trajectory of Zach Sawchenko before turning professional?<\/p>\n

Zach Sawchenko turned professional when he represented the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL seven years ago in the 2019-20 season. But prior to that, he was a part of the University of Alberta team for two seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19 in the USports league.<\/p>\n

Sawchenko played 34 games for them to register a formidable 28-4-1 record for a 1.74 goals-against average and five shutouts with a save percentage in excess of .900.<\/p>\n

Before that, the Canadian played in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Moose Jaw Warriors for four seasons from 2013-14 to 2016-17. He took the ice for them in 177 games for an 88-65-16 record with a .908 save percentage, 3.11 goals-against average, and nine shutouts.<\/p>\n

Moreover, Sawchenko also joined the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL, a minor professional ice hockey league, in the 2019-20 season shortly after becoming a part of San Jose in the AHL. While the 28-year-old didn\u2019t play any games for Orlando in the ECHL, he did so after leaving them and arriving at the Allen Americans in the same season.<\/p>\n

He had a 13-4-3 record in 20 games with Allen across the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, including a .928 save percentage, 2.42 goals-against average, and two shutouts.<\/p>\n

Will Zach Sawchenko provide the goalie depth to the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2026-27 NHL season? Tell us your views in the comments.<\/p>\n

Follow NHL Fan Central<\/a> for more updates!<\/p>\n

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