One of the standouts from the 2024 Pittsburgh Penguins camp was Sergei Murashov. Who is he, and when could he play in North America?
The Pittsburgh Penguins wrapped up their 2024 Development Camp on Wednesday, with Team 1, led by Owen Pickering, winning the Michele Briere Trophy.
On top of all the buzz surrounding the camp, one of the big headlines involved the appearance of Russian netminder Sergei Murashov.
Selected by the Penguins in the fourth round (118th overall) at the 2022 Entry Draft, the 20-year-old is tearing it up in the MHL and KHL.
Last season, Murashov was 24-4-2 in the MHL with a .930 SV% and 2.03 GAA while putting up similar numbers in the senior KHL, 3-1-2 with a .925 SV% and 1.84 GAA.
In 2022-23, the season after Pittsburgh drafted him, his statistics were off the charts: .948 SV% and 1.53 GAA, with a 24-7-5 record in 37 games.
Everyone who watched him at the Development Camp had nothing but praise for his competitive level. They hope to see him in North America this winter to grow his game and continue pursuing an NHL job.
Assistant General Manager Jason Spezza mentioned that the organization does not know Murashov's plans for the upcoming season but thought that his attendance at his first camp was a step in the right direction.
The Penguins have Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic signed for the 2024-25 season, with Jarry on the books until the end of 2027-28.
Non-NHL-roster goalies include Joel Blomqvist, Taylor Gauthier, Filip Larsson, Filip Lindberg, and Ludovic Waeber.
Although there are a handful of goalies ahead of him on the depth chart and two bonafide NHL starters in the crease now, based on Murashov's performance at the development camp, he could be closer to playing in the AHL and NHL sooner than later.
The potential to be the team's next standout netminder like Igor Shesterkin in New York means Jarry and Nedeljkovic's roles with the Penguins may change soon.