Former Panthers Reilly and Bussi Eye Stanley Cup Glory with Hurricanes

As the Carolina Hurricanes gear up for the Stanley Cup final, two former Florida Panthers are in the spotlight: defenseman Mike Reilly and goaltender Brandon Bussi. Both players now have the chance to chase their championship dreams with the Hurricanes, who are fresh off a decisive five-game series victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

The Hurricanes, who previously lifted the Stanley Cup in 2005-06 and reached the finals in 2001-02, are making their third appearance in the championship series. Their post-season journey has been nothing short of dominant, with the team suffering just one loss on their way to the finals.

While Reilly and Bussi may not be the most prominent names on the Hurricanes roster, their contributions have been key to the team’s success. Reilly, who has appeared in just two playoff games, has made his mark with two assists. In the regular season, he recorded one goal and nine points over 42 games.

On the other hand, Bussi has yet to see playoff action but played a vital role during the regular season, stepping up as the team navigated through injuries to their goaltenders. He played 39 games, securing 31 wins and achieving an .895 save percentage. Although Frederik Andersen has been the primary goaltender in the playoffs, Bussi remains an essential backup option.

The paths of Reilly and Bussi with the Panthers were brief. Bussi joined the Panthers on a two-way deal in the offseason but was claimed off waivers by the Hurricanes during the preseason. Meanwhile, Reilly played just two games for Florida before being placed on waivers and subsequently claimed by the New York Islanders, marking a quick end to his time with the Panthers.

The highly anticipated 2025-26 NHL Stanley Cup finals will kick off on Tuesday, with the Hurricanes set to host the Vegas Golden Knights in a battle for hockey’s ultimate prize.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.