Penguins Sign Top Goaltender Prospect Sergei Murashov To An Entry Level Contract
Photo Credit: Benjamin B. Braun/Post-Gazette
The Penguins drafted Sergei Murashov in the 4th round of the 2022 NHL draft. Since being drafted, he has played great hockey in Russia. This year in the MHL (the Junior Hockey League in Russia), in 34 games, he posted a 2.03 goals against average and a 930 save percentage. He would also get action in the KHL and continued his strong play with a 1.84 goals-against average and 925 save percentage in 6 games. By the way, Murashov is 20 years old and is putting up these statistics.
In July, Murashov made it to America to play in the Penguins development camp in Cranberry. All eyes were on the netminder, as he had a lot of hype and excitement from the Penguins scouts and coaches to see him in action up close. Murashov delivered and had an outstanding development camp, separating himself from the other prospects. Tom Kostopoulos, the director of player development for the Penguins, said, "Murashov, off the top of my head, is the one that stood out."
The Penguins were impressed, and it was up to Murashov to decide where he wanted to go next in his career. He could either go back to Russia and sign a contract in the KHL or move to America and begin his professional career in the Penguins system. He would choose to move to America and sign an entry-level contract.
The Penguins's strongest position in the organization is goaltending, starting at the top with Tristan Jarry, who recently signed a 5-year extension with the Penguins last summer. Jarry, at the top of his game, is a top-10 goalie in the NHL. Behind him is backup goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, who revamped his career this past season with the Penguins and was a big reason why the Penguins were on a hot streak to finish the year, going 8-2-2 in their last 12 games of the season. Nedeljkovic earned a two-year extension with the Penguins this offseason.
In the minors in both the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the ECHL team, the Wheeling Nailers, the goaltending position will be a battle in fighting for playing time in the net.
Starting with Joel Blomqvist, who could potentially play in the NHL this year. Kyle Dubas and the entire organization continue to think highly of Blomqvist after he posted a 2.16 goals-against average and a 921 save percentage in 45 games in Wilkes-Barre. Then there was Filip Larsson, who left Sweden this year. It’s hard to believe he will end up in the ECHL after leaving Sweden with impressive numbers. Last but not least, the Penguins have the ECHL goaltender of the year, Taylor Gauthier. In 42 games, he displayed a 2.23 goals-against average and a 923 save percentage.
The Penguins and the front office have a good problem with all the talent in the world in the goaltending position. However, it will be interesting how the organization distributes playing time in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL.