"He’s always eager to learn more to learn about himself, about hockey, it’s not specific to hockey all the time. How he processes it all is a strength to him; he’s quick to process things,” - Kain Tisi
Sergei Murashov isn’t just putting together a great season in the American Hockey League (AHL); he’s having an exceptional one. He has a .921 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.18 goals-against average with three shutouts for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. It’s only a matter of time before he’s part of the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending rotation.
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The goaltending win is an outdated stat that doesn’t measure their play in the net. However, it’s worth noting that the AHL team has won 20 of its 36 games with Murashov as the starter. Simply put, the team goes as he does.
What makes Murashov elite? How will the 21-year-old prospect make the jump to the NHL, and when does it happen? Kain Tisi is the goaltending coach in Wilkes-Barre and has coached him since the start of the season and knows him better than arguably anyone in the organization.
Murashov’s Mindset Stands Out
It’s well known in the hockey world that goaltenders are a rare breed. Some of them are quiet and reserved, while others have wild personalities. Murashov is one of the few who can talk about anything, even outside of the game, yet also be serious and give a detailed answer to a question about goaltending. “The first thing that strikes you is the person he is, the perspective he has, how mindful he is of himself and the big picture of where he is,” Tisi mentioned in a conversation with The Hockey News.
It’s similar to some of the prospects around the AHL. Many of them are buttoned up and reserved, or frankly, not used to talking because of how they were brought up. Few, like Denver Barkey or Andrew Cristall, are candid and talk about everything in detail. Murashov is that but as a goaltender as well (as an aside, he also speaks fluent English as a rookie who has only been in North America for two years).
It speaks to his approach. Murashov is always learning and always studying to improve. Sometimes it’s hockey, while other times it’s life. “He’s always eager to learn more to learn about himself, about hockey, it’s not specific to hockey all the time. How he processes it all is a strength to him; he’s quick to process things,” Tisi noted.
“But also, how he can turn the switch from a nice, kind, and thoughtful person to the dog on the ice, a killer,” Tisi added. Murashov is a goaltender with a thirst for knowledge and is always looking for ways to improve. It explains his rise in the Penguins system and why he’s next in line to be in the NHL.
Murashov is a Technical Goaltender First, An Athletic One Second
The on-ice element to his game that stands out is his precision. Murashov is a technical goaltender who reads the play to make the easy save. “What puts him in the right position more often than not is how he reads and processes the game well. The anticipation, reading the play that’s in front of him,” Tisi notes. Murashov doesn’t make many highlight saves because he doesn’t have to.
Murashov is well-prepared for the initial shot and knows where the play is heading. It’s why he can make those saves even on the shots through traffic, which are common in the AHL. The league is built on chaos and crazy bounces, so Murashov coming prepared allows him to win half the battle.
In the AHL, there are plenty of athletic goaltenders who thrive in the chaos. “A lot of guys are athletic but they aren’t reading the play,” Tisi added, something Murashov does to separate himself from the rest of his peers. That’s a skill that translates to any level, especially the NHL, where offenses are built on precision.
Where Murashov Must Improve
“I know he’s working on his puck handling ability, that’s a strength he really wants to help this team,” Tisi stated. It’s a skill that goes unnoticed but is a key for teams that value possession and keeping the puck out of the defensive zone. The small things are becoming the keys for Murashov to master, with hopes of making that leap.
It’s easy to forget how young Murashov is. Most goaltenders don’t make it to the NHL until they are 23 or older, and he’s only 21. Until he gets the call-up, it’s all about rounding out his game in the AHL to prepare when he’s there. Murashov had a brief stint earlier in the season with the NHL team and noted afterwards that the game isn’t significantly different, specifically, that the preparation and routine he has at the AHL level will work at the next level.
The big difference between the two leagues is the style of play. In the AHL, the offense comes from chaos. High to low and low to high plays, lucky bounces, dirty area goals, and so on. The NHL goals come from structure, like set plays off the faceoff, one-timers, or give-and-go plays.
The big difference between the two leagues is the style of play. In the AHL, offense comes from chaos. High to low plays, lucky bounces, dirty area goals, and so on. In the NHL, they come from structure like set plays off the faceoff, one-timers, or give-and-go plays.“
The other difference, and one that’s hard to prepare for, is the skill level. The NHL shooters are just that much better and can thread the needle. Yes, those are world-class shooters but if they are reading the play properly and in the right position and have access to those skills, our belief is those guys can make those saves,” Tisi responded when asked about the skill level, whether Murashov is prepared for it. For this, he just needs the reps in the NHL to know whether he can handle them. “You don’t know until you’re in that position,” Tisi added.
The NHL Comp
It’s hard to compare goaltenders to others because everyone has a unique set of strengths. It’s comparing non-linear weights. Tisi paused when asked who Murashov reminded him of in the NHL and rattled off the skills that the other elite goaltenders around the NHL also have.
It’s hard to compare goalies because everyone has their strengths. Murashov has good qualities from a few around the NHL.
“I would say he’s a hybrid of a few guys. His hockey IQ is from a Bobrovsky but the intensity and confidence are from a Vasilevskiy,” which of course is high praise for Murashov. Without question, the 21-year-old Russian grew up admiring the two and wanted to be like them with all the hardware and Hall of Fame resumes.
The fair comp in the NHL is Jeremy Swayman based on size and athletic ability. Both are 6-foot-2 and not a commanding presence in the net. That said, they are technical and, when needed, can sprawl around in the net and make a big save. After last season, this wouldn’t be a compliment but Swayman is proving he’s a great goaltender this season as he’s keeping the Boston Bruins in the playoff picture. Similarly, the Penguins have struggled lately, yet Murashov remains the bright spot, someone they can turn to for wins.
Why The Penguins Are Good At Goaltending Development
Taking a step back, it’s hard to ignore the Penguins ability to develop goaltenders and have them play above their weight. Along with Murashov, they’ve drafted and developed reliable goaltending at every level, and it’s allowed their teams to have success on the ice, even when the defense doesn’t help them out.
It’s a reflection of the coaching job that the Penguins have done, specifically, from their goaltending staff. “They’re very passionate about learning about the game, there’s no absolute in their teaching or their perspective, and we’re all open, we all share, we’re all collaborative,” Tisi noted, adding, “We all have our way but none of us are set in our ways.” This staff includes Jon Elkin and Mike Chiasson in Pittsburgh, Tisi in Wilkes-Barre, and Karel Popper with the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL. Having everyone contributing but on the same page is a recipe for success, as the Penguins have shown.
Likewise, general manager (GM) Kyle Dubas has invested heavily in the position. It’s why he acquired Arturs Silovs in the offseason, and even in the Tristan Jarry trade, he landed a goaltender in the return with Stuart Skinner joining the team. Teams can never have enough goaltenders in their system, at least that’s what Dubas believes.
As for Tisi, he talked about how he’d love to coach in the NHL someday. As a head coach? No. As a goalie coach? Absolutely. “I've done this for 13 years, so goalie coach is where I’m at.” His success in the AHL suggests he will get that promotion soon enough.