After the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2006, Frederik Andersen said he’s still trying to process whether he’s “dreaming or not.” Andersen saw Brandon Bussi start and finish Game 6 with a shutout after replacing him midway th
For Frederik Andersen, the last stretch of Carolina’s Stanley Cup run didn’t just end in celebration—it left him staring at the moment, wondering if it was real.
The Carolina Hurricanes were crowned Stanley Cup champions for the first time since 2006. beating the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final while getting production from both of their goaltenders during the series. Carolina lost only three games in the postseason. marking the fewest losses by any Stanley Cup winner since the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers in 1988.
In the deciding sequence, it was Brandon Bussi who closed the series. He delivered a shutout in Game 6 at T-Mobile Arena, and the switch between the netminders had already happened earlier—Bussi replaced Andersen midway through Game 3.
When the final moments arrived and the trophy presentation came, Andersen wasn’t just watching from the bench. He was the first Hurricanes player to receive the Stanley Cup from captain Jordan Staal. Staal’s night didn’t stop with lifting the Cup: he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP.
Afterward, Andersen tried to put words to what he was living through. He admitted he was having a hard time separating the experience from a dream, saying: “I’ve still got to figure out if I’m dreaming or not,” via Chris Johnston on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Andersen’s path to this point has been anything but straightforward. The Hurricanes originally selected him with the 187th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, but he was unable to come to terms with Carolina on a contract. He re-entered the draft and was then selected by the Anaheim Ducks in 2012.
With Anaheim, Andersen played several years before moving to the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the 2016-17 season. He later joined the Hurricanes ahead of 2021-22, and he has signed a series of extensions to remain with the club.
His record in the NHL speaks to the steadiness he’s brought across seasons: 324-149-58 with a 2.58 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage, including 28 shutouts. Now, he is set to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup for the first time.
That detail—first engraving. first Cup since 2006—lands with extra weight when Andersen describes the moment as something he can’t yet fully tell apart from reality. In a Final where Carolina leaned on two goaltenders to get the job done. Andersen’s role in the story ended with the Cup in hand and the same question still lingering in his mind.
Frederik Andersen Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup Final Vegas Golden Knights Brandon Bussi Jordan Staal Conn Smythe Trophy T-Mobile Arena 2010 NHL Draft 2012 NHL Draft Toronto Maple Leafs Anaheim Ducks
Dreaming or not?? Sounds like he needs a nap lol but congrats to them I guess.
I still don’t get how Bussi started/finished when Andersen was there. Like wait, was Andersen benched the whole time or what? Also 2006 was forever ago so yeah it would feel unreal.
Andersen admitting it’s unreal makes sense because the Cup was basically handed to them by the switch in goalies. If he got replaced mid-game 3 then of course he’s like “am I dreaming.” Sports is weird like that.
Congrats but I’m confused on the whole “first Hurricanes player to receive the Stanley Cup from Jordan Staal” thing… didn’t Staal not even win that before? Also if they only lost 3 games, why did it feel like they were struggling most of the playoffs on TV. Maybe I missed a bunch of games. Either way, engraving on the Cup is kinda insane.