Penguins A to Z: Sergei Murashov is ready for the NHL (original) (raw)
With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason after a brief return to the postseason, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 53 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization.
Starting with veteran Noel Acciari and going on through to prospect Bill Zonnon, every player will be profiled in alphabetical order.
This series is scheduled to be published every day until June 24, two days before the start of the NHL Draft. In the event of a transaction, that schedule will be altered as necessary.
(Note: All contract information courtesy of Puckpedia.)
Sergei Murashov
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Right
Age: 22
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 185 pounds
2025-26 NHL regular season statistics: Five games, 1-1-2 record, 2.56 goals against average, .897 save percentage, one shutout
2025-26 AHL regular season statistics: 38 games, 24-9-4 record, 2.20 goals against average, .919 save percentage, four shutouts
2025-26 AHL postseason statistics: 15 games, 8-7 record, 2.11 goals against average, .931 save percentage, one shutout
Contract: In the second year of a three-year, entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $ $936,110. Pending restricted free agent in 2027
(Murashov does not require waivers for an assignment to a minor league affiliate.)
Acquired: Fourth-round draft pick (No. 118 overall), July 8, 2022
This season: Dating to April of 2025, Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas declared an open competition for the NHL club’s two goaltending roles and said the two best applicants for those jobs would get them, regardless of other factors such as contracts and waivers.
It’s fair to wonder how valid that declaration was, given that Sergei Murashov spent the bulk of the season in the American Hockey League.
After a strong preseason in which he went 2-0-1 over three games along with a 1.72 goals against average and a .935 save percentage, Murashov was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Oct. 4.
Serving as that team’s top goaltender over the first month of the season, Murashov appeared in seven games and posted a 5-2-0 record, a 1.73 goals against average, a .930 save percentage and one shutout.
When incumbent starter Tristan Jarry suffered an undisclosed ailment and landed on injured reserve Nov. 4, Murashov was recalled to the NHL roster and remained there for most of the month.
Sergei with a couple stellar saves ???? pic.twitter.com/DgSQCdXCvf
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) October 17, 2025
Making his NHL debut Nov. 9, Murashov stopped 31 of 33 shots in a 3-2 home loss to the Los Angeles Kings, which saw the visitors score the tying and winning goals in the third period.
— EN Videos (@ENVideos19) June 10, 2026
A week later, Murashov recorded his first career NHL win and shutout by making 21 saves in a 4-0 victory against the Nashville Predators in Stockholm on Nov. 16.
— EN Videos (@ENVideos19) June 10, 2026
By the end of the month, Jarry had recovered and Murashov was returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Nov. 26. Aside from a brief recall under emergency roster conditions on Dec. 13, Murashov remained in Northeast Pennsylvania for the remainder of the regular season.
Largely platooning with fellow prospect Joel Blomqvist, Murashov thrived with that division of labor, earning selections to the AHL’s All-Star event and the league’s All-Rookie team.
SERGEI MURASHOV pic.twitter.com/GG8TZKaKsP
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 28, 2026
Helping Wilkes-Barre/Scranton secure the Atlantic Division title, Murashov served as that team’s top goaltender for the duration of the postseason, helping the Penguins reach the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2014.
SERGEI MURASHOV pic.twitter.com/X6OSJDouno
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 15, 2026
The future: The presumption is that Penguins management will allow veteran goaltender Stuart Skinner to walk as a pending unrestricted free agent July 1 and re-sign rookie Arturs Silovs, a pending restricted free agent. That would clear the way for Murashov to finally ascend to the NHL and form a platoon with Silovs to start the 2026-27 campaign.
Murashov has made a rapid rise from mid-level draft pick to NHL-ready goaltender in a fairly short span of time. His presence allowed the Penguins to feel comfortable in parting ways with Jarry, has made Skinner expendable and he has even surpassed Blomqvist, another AHL All-Star, as the organization’s top prospect in net.
It’s fair to wonder if Murashov is indeed a franchise goaltender. But he is ready for the NHL.