If professional sports teams were run by direct democracy, Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry might have been traded for a seventh-round pick or less this summer. However, fans don’t get to run their favorite teams like an American Idol-style voting show. So, as goalies dominated NHL trade rumors, Penguins president of hockey operations and GM Kyle Dubas stood firm.
In mid-June, Dubas re-signed backup/1A goalie Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year, $5 million contract.
The Penguins’ goaltending situation seemed settled. Jarry, 29, had a strong season until the team’s late-season collapse. Nedeljkovic, 28, experienced a career resurgence, transitioning from backup to a 1A role and starting the final 14 games in a thrilling but ultimately futile push for the final playoff spot.
Top goalie prospect Joel Blomqvist had an outstanding year with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, posting a .921 save percentage. Dubas was ready to bring Blomqvist into the NHL if he performed well in the AHL playoffs. However, Blomqvist struggled in the postseason, leading Dubas to re-sign Nedeljkovic to give Blomqvist more time to develop.
The Penguins had three goalies at different career stages: a starter, a sidecar, and a prospect on the rise. The goaltending seemed set, right?
Wrong.
Taylor Gauthier, 23, performed well with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, posting a .923 save percentage, and seemed poised to back up Blomqvist in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
On April 29, Dubas signed 25-year-old Filip Larsson, a former Detroit Red Wings sixth-round pick. After a brief stint in North America, Larsson returned to Sweden and posted save percentages above .920 with Leksands IF last season.
It appeared Larsson and Gauthier would compete for the second goalie spot in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Wrong again.
On Tuesday, the Penguins signed 2022 fourth-round pick Sergei Murashov. The Russian goalie, who attended Development Camp in early July, is now heading to North America. Murashov has grown a couple of inches since his draft day to 6-foot-2 and is rapidly rising in the prospect ranks with a .930 save percentage in Russian juniors and a .925 rate in six KHL games.
Murashov’s experience in the KHL, often considered the second-best league in the world, is a significant factor. He performed well against professional competition, including former NHL players.
Penguins Goalie Depth Chart
The Penguins’ goaltending depth chart is evolving. Jarry, the team’s 2013 second-round pick (44th overall), once climbed from the bottom of the depth chart but is now at the top. The questions about who will emerge from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins faster are significant. Could Murashov leap past Blomqvist, forcing a Penguins trade? Will Blomqvist refine his game and be ready in-season, prompting another trade?
What about Larsson? He likely didn’t sign a contract to play in Wheeling. And what of Gauthier, who has earned an AHL opportunity?
A Jarry trade seems increasingly likely. While PHN has suggested that next summer might be the right time after Blomqvist has another year to mature, Murashov’s arrival disrupts that timeline as both Blomqvist and Murashov need playing time.
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However, the offseason is nearly over. Most teams have made their moves. The LA Kings acquired Darcy Kuemper in the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade. The New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators made big splashes, getting Jacob Markstrom and Linus Ullmark, respectively.
A few teams might still need a goalie upgrade, such as the Chicago Blackhawks or San Jose Sharks, but they lack urgency due to their rebuild status.
Yet, a Jarry trade now seems inevitable. With Murashov’s arrival, it’s not a matter of if but when.
Did you see those saves by Murashov?
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