Figuring out whether they're going to run it back with Tristan Jarry or look elsewhere for their No. 1 goalie should be at the top of the Penguins' priority list this offseason.
Although the immediate future between the pipes is a bit murky at this point in time, is it possible they already have their goaltender of the (distant) future?
He's certainly not a household name among Penguins fans, but I suspect that might change after next season.
If you haven't already, familiarize yourself: Sergei Murashov.
Murashov, who turned 19 last month, was the Penguins' fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. At the time, director of amateur scouting Nick Pryor said the team knew they had to take him when he was still on the board for their first Day 2 pick.
"He's got good hockey sense for a goalie and good athletic ability," Pryor said. "He's just someone that we were high on as a staff and we really liked the hockey sense and the calmness that he brings."
Additionally, Pryor said Russian scout Alexander Khavanov and goaltending development coach Chuck Grant both spent some time scouting Murashov and were "very high" on him. It's pretty easy to see why.
Murashov is currently a product of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL. He has spent the past three seasons playing for their two affiliates in the MHL, Loko and Loko-76. Loko is the stronger of the two teams and the one Murashov predominantly played for this past season. He performed so well that he earned the award for the MHL's top goaltender.
MHL
Sergei Murashov at the MHL awards ceremony in April.
Appearing in 37 games for Loko, Murashov picked up 24 wins while posting an absolutely absurd .948 save percentage and 1.53 goals-against average. In just five games with Loko-76, he picked up only two wins, but rocked a .932 save percentage and 2.04 goals-against average. Combined, he finished the MHL season with a .946 save percentage and 1.58 goals-against average, good for second and first, respectively, among all league goaltenders.
What might be most impressive about his season is that he had the exact same number of shutouts (11) as games in which he allowed three or more goals. Two or fewer goals allowed in 73.8% of his appearances. Not only were his 11 shutouts the most in the MHL, the two goalies tied for the second-most shutouts had only six.
Those are video game numbers.
Then, Murashov backstopped Loko to the third round of the playoffs. In 10 games, he went 6-4 with a .932 save percentage and 2.07 goals-against average. Among MHL goalies to play at least 300 minutes in the playoffs, both marks ranked third.
Back in December, Murashov was called up to the KHL, skipping right over the VHL (Russian minor league), for his first professional start. He stopped 18 of 19 shots against and earned the victory before he was returned to the MHL for the remainder of the season.
It was an incredible year and a big step forward for his development after a strong 2021-22 season with Loko-76 when he became the full-time starter.
There isn't a ton of Murashov film publicly available, but what is available shows an extremely quick and agile goaltender who has no shortage of confidence in his abilities. Take a look at some of the top saves from his draft year:
I get that's a highlight package, but ... wowza.
Thanks to InStat Hockey, I was able to scout him beyond the save compilations available on YouTube.
Murashov isn't very large compared to modern-day standards at 6 feet, 170 pounds, and he'll need to continue filling out to eventually reach the NHL, but he compensates for a lack of size with his athleticism.
Everything must be taken with a grain of salt considering the competition, but I found him to be adept at squaring up shooters. Generally, goalies are taught to keep the puck in line with their belly button, and it seemed as though he had a puck magnet placed there that allowed him to find the perfect depth in his crease when preparing for a shot.
When shooters are in tight, Murashov has a somewhat hunched stance that helps him crowd over top of the puck, making it that much more difficult to find an angle on him. And even when the puck carrier tries to pull him out of position with a quick deke or two, it doesn't matter because of how crisp his lateral movement and puck tracking are.
The same goes for when he has to drop into the butterfly or pop out of it back to his skates. The speed at which he does so is remarkable. It'll be really impressive if he's able to maintain that quickness after bulking up.
Another thing that really stood out to me was that he never, ever gives up on a shot, even if he's down for the count. His quickness comes into play in this regard, as well, but he also deserves credit for his compete level. His technique is strong, but he isn't reluctant to go outside the box to make a save when it's necessary.
No goalie is perfect, though, and Murashov's not any different. The biggest flaw in his game right now is that he doesn't make himself large enough when down in the butterfly. Fixing this will come along with adding weight and additional coaching, but for now, this can result in him leaving the upper-half of the net open, which is where he seems to get beat the most.
Murashov has one year left on his contract with Lokomotiv in Russia. He'll likely play in the VHL or be the backup in the KHL. With another season like the one he just had, he'll be on a fast track to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL.
Goaltending is voodoo. Projecting proven commodities in goal is tough enough. Projecting teenage goalies is even more difficult. But Murashov's numbers to this point do all the necessary talking. I have to imagine he's at least three or four years out from reaching the NHL, if he gets there at all. For now, though, it certainly seems as if the Penguins have a hidden gem on their hands.
