Checking in on Penguins’ Top Goalie Prospect Sergei Murashov

Murashov finished his stint in Pittsburgh by allowing nine goals over his next three games, but he still showed flashes of becoming a future starting goalie. Here’s what you need to know about the promise the young netminder’s shown in 2025-26.

Murashov Making an Impression in the AHL

When he first joined the Penguins organization as a member of the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers last season, Murashov didn’t need a lot of games to prove he was special. Spending the 2024-25 campaign shifting between Wheeling and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he put up prolific numbers, logging a 17-7-1 record and 12-3-1 record in the regular season with the Nailers and Penguins, respectively.

After seeing him thrive in the ECHL, Murashov earned the right to spend most of this season in the AHL between NHL call-ups. Through 36 games, he’s only improved, this time with a much more prominent role on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ roster.

Speckled with highlight-reel saves, Murashov’s been an integral part of the team’s dominance. As of April 13, the AHL Penguins sit second in the Atlantic Division and third in the league. It’s hard to imagine they’d be in this position without Murashov’s play between the pipes.

Sharing the crease with another solid goaltending prospect, Joel Blomqvist, Murashov slightly outdueled his teammate this year despite having much less experience at the AHL level.

“It’s a working process. We respect each other. Everyone wants the best from himself, but at the end of the day we just respect each other’s personalities, understand that we have our own paths,” Murashov said of working alongside Blomqvist.

Sporting a 2.24 goals-against average (4th in the AHL) and a sharp .918 save percentage (3rd in the AHL), Murashov has consistently shown the confidence and poise of a veteran goaltender despite having so much hockey left in front of him as a 21-year-old. After getting only a small taste of Calder Cup playoff action last spring, he’ll look to lead his team on a much longer postseason journey this time around.

Murashov Looked Comfortable During Recent NHL Stint

Each time Murashov has been called up to Pittsburgh, his appearances haven’t been taken lightly. That was the case again when he was brought up on an emergency basis last week after Skinner suffered an eye injury following the Penguins’ back-to-back home games against the Florida Panthers.

While Skinner sat out last Sunday’s game, he and Murashov got to know each other as they watched the second of the two contests. Over the next few days, the netminders also worked together on the ice during practice as Skinner recovered.

“It was great. We had a great conversation and shared experiences from my career and his. It was nice to hear some stories about his journey. He’s a great guy. It’s awesome to look (at) how he’s working. I hope he wouldn’t be mad if I took something from him,” Murashov said of Skinner.

Though Murashov was returned to the AHL before the Penguins’ playoff-clinching win over the New Jersey Devils on April 9, he didn’t look too out of place alongside Pittsburgh’s top puck-stoppers. He even gave some of the team’s most dangerous scorers some difficulty during a shootout drill.

Could Murashov Appear in the Playoffs?

Not likely. The Penguins have been very careful not to rush Murashov’s development. So, the only way he might come in during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs is if no other reasonable options are available.

Sure, it’s possible that Skinner or Silovs suffers an injury that forces general manager Kyle Dubas to suddenly bring in another goalie. But even if that happens, the Penguins have other options before they would need to call on Murashov to take over as the backup goaltender. Blomqvist and Filip Larsson are also available for Dubas to pull into the fray.

Days ago, Pittsburgh chose to bring in newly-signed netminder Taylor Gauthier over Murashov to back up Silovs against the Panthers. However, Murashov will still get his share of playoff action no matter what. He’ll have his hands full leading a playoff push as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s go-to goaltender as the franchise chases its first Calder Cup championship.

“I would say, I just know my own game more. We have a really good process in Wilkes-Barre, especially with our goalie coach, who I’m really grateful (for). We’ve practiced a lot of different things, but I think it’s more about just in general understanding what works for me best,” Murashov said of what he’s learned from his time in the AHL.

While Murashov’s chances of making his NHL playoff debut over the next two months are pretty thin, he isn’t the worst option as a third-stringer should the Penguins need to bring in another goalie. The Yaroslavl, Russia native’s confidence continues to grow, and the more experience he gets, the closer he is to becoming Pittsburgh’s next star in net.