The 27-year-old goalie is entering the final year of a four-year contract and could have become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Kochetkov was limited to nine games (eight starts) last season and went 6-2-0 with a 2.33 goals-against average, .899 save percentage and one shutout, last playing Dec. 20 before having hip surgery.
“I’m very happy to be done," Kochetkov said Saturday. "It’s a long talk about (the) contract, and I’m very happy to be done. Now I can focus on hockey.
“We started talking about it after the season. Just last week we shake hands and wait until all the details are done.”
Kochetkov was healthy enough to dress as the Hurricanes backup behind Brandon Bussi during the Stanley Cup Final after Frederik Andersen was injured, but did not play in any games.
"Pyotr is an incredibly talented goalie whose aggressive style fits our team very well," Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said. "We believe in his ability to win games for this organization and are thrilled he wants to continue helping us pursue championships in Carolina."
Kochetkov said he wasn't pleased with his play in two preseason games; he allowed five goals on 33 shots in a 6-3 loss at the Florida Panthers on Sunday and five goals on 28 shots in a 6-5 win against the Nashville Predators on Thursday. But he also said he's eager to get the regular season going.
"It’s tough to say, but I don’t want to talk about excuses," he said. "The first game, I (felt) like nothing was good. The second game, it (felt) tough in the first half of the game. Just need to find my game a little and find what I do.
“I don’t want to talk about a long time (without) playing. Yes, it’s true. Now preseason is done and I want to play a real game. I need a couple games, and all good.”
Selected by Carolina in the second round (No. 36) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Kochetkov is 71-38-12 with a 2.46 GAA, .905 save percentage and 11 shutouts in 125 games (120 starts) and 2-5 with a 3.83 GAA and .860 save percentage in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
NHL.com independent correspondent Kurt Dusterberg contributed to this report
