PensBurgh Top 25 Under 25: No. 4 Sergei Murashov

A surprise signing elevates a young goalie towards the top of the prospects the Penguins have

The Penguins didn’t have to end up being too patient in getting a Russian goalie to jump over and play professionally for them. That’s not the norm, but is a pleasant surprise for Pittsburgh to add the talents and immense upside of Sergei Murashov to their organization starting in 2024-25.

Graduates and departed players from last year’s list
The best of the rest
#25: Raivis Ansons
#24: Kirill Tankov
#23: Isaac Belliveau
#22: Taylor Gauthier
#21: Chase Pietila
#20: Emil Jarventie
#19: Kalle Kangas
#18: Joona Vaisanen
#17: Filip Kral
#16: Mac Swanson
#15: Jonathan Gruden
#14: Cruz Lucius
#13: Emil Pieniniemi
#12: John Ludvig
#11: Mikhail Ilyin
#10: Harrison Brunicke
#9: Tristan Broz
#8: Sam Poulin
#7: Tanner Howe
#6: Vasily Ponomarev
#5: Ville Koivunen

#4: Sergei Murashov, G
2023 Ranking: 10th
Age: 20 (Apr. 1, 2004)
Acquired Via: 2022 NHL Draft (Round 4 – No. 118 overall)
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 170 pounds

Elite Prospects resume

Alexander Khavanov only worked for the Penguins for a little over two years from 2021-23, but he might have last a lasting impact when he got Pittsburgh to select a little-known Russian goalie in 2022. Sergei Murashov was ranked seventh by NHL’s Central Scouting amount European goalies but the Pens felt strongly enough to pick him 118th overall, the fifth goalie taken overall in that draft.

As is the case with Russian prospects, an NHL team doesn’t know what to expect or usually when to expect it.

Initial returns looked good. Murashov won the MHL (Russia’s version of the Junior leagues) ‘Best Goaltender’ award in 2022-23 and set MHL career-highs in wins (24), goals-against average (1.53), save percentage (.948) and shutouts (11), as the Penguins pointed out.

In 2023-24, he took another step, in six games with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL, Murashov went 3-1-2 with a 1.84 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and one shutout. Down at the MHL level, the goaltender was dominant with video game stats of a 24-4-2 record, a 2.03 GAA, .930 save percentage and four shutouts in 34 games.

The big problem there was only six KHL games in the top league, a result of being low man on the totem poll for a stacked Yaroslavl team with plenty of options. As such, Murashov began to explore his options too. He was a free agent following the expiration of his contract with Yaroslavl. He could have remained with that organization or moved to another Russian team for a path to playing time at home.

Then, another avenue opened.

Murashov was a last minute addition to the Penguins’ development camp in July. A third option to begin his North American journey was there.

“To be honest, I need to make a decision, Because I have different ways for my next season. This development camp is also for me to watch how it works in the USA, how Pittsburgh looks like. That is why now I can’t answer this question.”

“It was a great challenge for me, it’s a higher level. I really enjoyed it, every game. There were really good games, and I loved it. It was a great experience, and it shows me that I could be better, where I have really good things.”

He enjoyed it enough to sign an entry level contract with Pittsburgh. Murashov also told rg.org (which stands for Responsible Gambling as an FYI) a bit about what the Penguins told him for their future plans.

I went through tests in the gym, and the coaches told me what I needed to improve. It was good to hear that. On the ice, we talked about many aspects of my game. Most of what the American coaches said about my game coincided with what my coaches in Yaroslavl said,” Murashov said exclusively to RG.org.

I can say right now that I’m ready to spend an entire season in the AHL,” Murashov admitted. “However, it’s only the beginning of August now. We’ll see how it goes. It’s a new challenge for me. The Penguins’ coaches have told me about the specific aspects of playing in the AHL.”

Murashov admits that he doesn’t have one idol in hockey, but he watches many goalies, mostly Russian. “I’m not following any specific goaltender in particular. There are several goalies whom I can learn from, such as Igor Shesterkin, Sergei Bobrovsky, Ilya Sorokin, Juuse Saros. I also enjoy watching Daniil Isayev play and practice with Lokomotiv’s first team. Isayev has been named the best goalie of the KHL, and I’m not surprised. There’s a long road ahead, and I’ll keep moving forward”.

It’s a long road indeed, but Murashov has already traveled far both figuratively and literally. At just 20, he’s decided to shift his career out of Russia and into the United States at a very early age. The Penguins were all too happy for him to give it a whirl.

Now the highlights will come from in closer and we’ll see how he can adjust. Murashov was downright dominant in summer hockey and jump-off-the-ice impressive as a summer hockey competitor. Given his statistical profile and evident talent, it’s not too much of a reach to suggest he could be in the long-line of Russian export goalies turned NHL stars.

There’s still time to go before that point, but surprisingly enough, the Penguins might not have had to wait for as long as we all thought.