Brandon Bussi Pro Reads 2
With Brandon Bussi
Managing Net Drives and Pop Passes and Stick Position
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Brandon Bussi was one of the best stories in the NHL this season, going from the Florida Panthers to the Carolina Hurricanes as a pre-season waiver claim, then setting multiple NHL records before signing a three-year contract extension. The 27-year-old is an even better person, a passionate student of the game and the perfect Pro Reads guest, so InGoal Magazine was thrilled to sit down with him during the season for a video breakdown session.
THE SEQUENCE
Bussi is facing a down low attack against the Dallas Stars in this clip that actually has three parts, starting with a sharp-angle net drive, a rebound, and then this chance on the rebound:
Looking at the freeze frame above, fuzzy as it is because we had to really zoom in, what is the biggest threat for Bussi? Given that, what do you make of A. His stick position and usage? And B. What should his positional priority be if that pass is made out front?
The Save
There’s a lot to this clip even before that freeze frame, so rather than using more freeze frames for a fast-moving scoring chance, watch the save (and multiple replays) and try to identify what you like (or dislike) about how Bussi plays this:
Watch the save and replays below keeping those same questions in mind:
Seeing how it all played out, is there anything you might have done differently?
What did you make of the active stick on both chances?
What about his push on the final chance? Would you be pushing out to the shot threat more than he did, or staying flat like he did with that push?
More importantly, why did you answer that way (either way)?
THE PRO READ
Now let’s hear how Bussi saw and managed these two sharp-angle chances.
Bussi's exact words on what his stick was trying to do — and where he admits it fell just short — come next in his own breakdown.
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- Bussi breaks down a three-part sharp-angle sequence against the Dallas Stars — a net drive, a rebound, and a second rebound chance — explaining his decisions on each.
- Bussi identifies his active stick as the central tool on both chances, using it to cut off the far post and prevent cross-crease passes.
- On the net drive, Bussi self-critiques a small leak to the short side but credits compete and positional awareness for finishing the sequence.
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