Penguins Goaltending Situation Just Got More Interesting, a Little Messy
If professional sports teams were a direct democracy, Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry probably would have been traded for a seventh-round pick or less this summer. However, fans don’t yet get to run their favorite teams with American Idol-style voting. So, as goalies dominated NHL trade rumors, Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas acted appropriately and stood down.
In fact, it wasn’t until mid-June that Dubas re-signed backup/1A goalie Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year, $5 million contract.
The full context of the Penguins’ goalie situation seemed set. Jarry, 29, was very good for most of last season until he was part of the Penguins’ later-season nosedive. Nedeljovic, 28, experienced a career resurgence, elevating himself from backup to a 1A-type goalie. He then started the final 14 games of the season during the Penguins’ frantic charge for the final playoff spot, which was exciting but too little, too late.
Top goalie prospect Joel Blomqvist had a stellar year with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, posting a .921 save percentage. Dubas rolled the red carpet for Blomqvist to join the NHL ranks this season if he could also be rock-solid in the AHL playoffs.
Blomqvist was not sharp in the postseason, and eventually, Dubas and crew decided to re-sign Nedeljkovic to give Blomqvist “time to breathe.”
Read More: Penguins Report Card–Scouting Joel Blomqvist (+).
There were three goalies at different stages of their careers: one starter, one sidecar, and one prospect on the way. The goaltending was set, right?
Wrong.
Poor Taylor Gauthier seems to be the forgotten man. Gauthier, 23, performed well backstopping the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL with a .923 save percentage. He figured to become the WBS backup behind Blomqvist.
On April 29, Dubas signed 25-year-old former Detroit Red Wings sixth-round pick Filip Larsson. After a short stint in North America at the ECHL and AHL levels prior to the COVID rampage, Larsson returned home to Sweden and the Elite League without returning. Last season, the 6-foot-2 goalie posted save percentages above .920 with Leksands IF.
It would appear Larsson and Gauthier would battle for the second chair in WBS.
Wrong again.
On Tuesday, the Penguins completed their coup by signing 2022 fourth-round pick Sergei Murashov. The Russian goalie was a late addition to Development Camp in early July, and now he’s coming to North America. The sparkling goalie has grown a couple of inches since his draft day (or is at least listed as such) to 6-foot-2.
He’s also a rapidly rising star in the prospects world, posting a .930 save percentage in Russian juniors and a .925 stopper rate in six KHL games.
That Murashov, 20, played in the KHL is a significant piece of the puzzle. He’s already played in what is arguably the second-best league in the world against professionals, including former NHL players. And he performed quite well.
Pittsburgh, meet Sergei Murashov 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/6dtGzL5FlW
— ChelPenguins (@ChelPenguins) July 30, 2024
Penguins Goalie Depth Chart
It seems like the world is coming full circle for Jarry, who was the Penguins’ 2013 second-round pick (44th overall). However, 2012 fourth-rounder Matt Murray beat him to WBS by a year, and the two shared the net in 2015-16 as Murray leaped the NHL. Jarry was caught behind starting goalies Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury until Murray elbowed past Fleury to take the net in 2017, and the Penguins said goodbye to Fleury via the Vegas Expansion Draft.
The Penguins haven’t had a pair of legitimate goalie prospects since. Jarry was once at the bottom of that totem pole pushing upward, but now he is at the top pushing down.
The questions are significant. Which goalie will emerge from the WBS Penguins faster? Could Murashov bolt past Blomqvist, quickly making the leap and forcing a Penguins trade? Will Blomqvist solidify his game, smoothing out those little rough patches that ultimately led to the team re-signing Nedeljkovic, and be ready in-season–forcing a Penguins trade?
What of Larsson? He probably didn’t sign a contract to play in Wheeling. What of Gauthier? He’s put in his time and deserves an AHL chance.
A Jarry trade seems more likely by the day. PHN has previously opined that next summer would be the appropriate time after Blomqvist has another year of maturation. However, Murashov wrecks that timeline as both Blomqvist and Murashov need playing time.
However, the offseason is essentially over. Teams made their moves. The LA Kings took on Darcy Kuemper and his somewhat onerous contract in the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade. The New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators made big splashes on the trade market, getting Jacob Markstrom and Linus Ullmark, respectively.
There might be a few teams in the league that could use a goalie upgrade, such as the Chicago Blackhawks or San Jose Sharks, but they also lack the urgency given the varying states of their rebuild.
Yet, it now seems inevitable. For the direct democracy crowd, the clock is ticking. Murashov’s arrival makes a Jarry trade far more likely, and it seems a matter of when, not if.
I mean, did you see those saves by Murashov?
Categorized:Penguins Penguins Trade Talk
This makes zero sense. If anyone would be traded due to some miraculous AHL Goalie forcing his way to the NHL, it would be Ned. The most likely scenario is what is going to happen though… Bloomer/Murashov split the load in the AHL and Jarry/Ned are in the NHL w/ one of the two AHL guys getting a call up if/when an injury strikes… You aren’t going Ned/Rookie unless you’re trying to tank.
Let Blomqvist, Murashov, Ned, Gauthier and Larsson fight for the NHL 1A/1B tandem then the AHL 1A/1B/1C trio. I recall previous miracle Matt Murray making many saves. If Dubas can complete a sound deal for Jarry, it should most certainly be second priority to the Crosby contract.
I agree Ujn it make no sense. I know it is the dog days. Dan must be struggling.
Dude, everyone else has figured out Jarry is not a NHL starting goalie. Get with the program it obvious to everyone but you.
‘everyone’ figured out he went from an all star to ‘not a nhl starting goalie’ faster than Murray went from cup champion to not a NHL backup goalie…because why? He reacted poorly to his own team scoring on him in Dallas?
Since when did goalie depth become a bad thing? I’m certain guys playing this position get injured every now and then.
So trade a veteran goaltender in Jarry who has shown he can play above average… to roll with a career below average journeyman in Ned and a bunch of prospects who have a total of 0 NHL experience. If they do that, they’re obviously giving up and it would be time to let Sid, Geno, and Letang walk to focus on the future
How are any of these players going to gather NHL experience without being given a several game stretch in the NHL ? If the coaching staff thinks they are there or extremely close, it’s time to roll the dice and see what some of these fellas can do. I understand not sending a guy up too early, but the timing seems right for 1 or 2 of these AHL goalies.
Aaron you are right and they won’t do it.
Murashov is the REAL DEAL!
I think he could be the Penguins #1 goalie if given the opportunity!
Trade Jarry and fix most of the Penguins problems.
Trading Jarry will not fix depth scoring or the extremely porous defense, which are the 2 main problems with the team, for those who pay attention.
Well, that is unless Jarry is traded for a top winger or solid shut down defender. Do you think Jarry would be worth that? I think not, but who knows?
Ding-ding-ding-ding!
PP Goals?
This is an intriguing idea. I wonder how comfortable EDM is with their goaltending situation? Not to mention they are cap strapped and have RFA Broberg due a new contract. Try this: EDM places Kane on LTIR and waives G Pickard realizing about 6,125,000 in savings, subtracting their current overage of 355k, leaves them with newly found cap space of 5,770,000. Trade Jarry and Bemstrom to EDM for Broberg and a 3rd round pick. The key to the deal is RS, 50% on Bemstrom, which is only for 1 year and would only cost PIT 387,500. Jarry 5,375,00 + Bemstrom… Read more »
I hadn’t heard about a Kane long term injury. Where did you hear that from?
He is not officially on LTIR, but if you search for the Oilers and/or Kane various outlets detail why he missed a portion of the playoffs – a sports hernia, developed a serious hip issue among other ailments. He can stay on LTIR and come back during the playoffs, unless the rules regarding such have changed. I doubt he’s currently tradable without sacrificing additional assets. He has 2 more years on his deal and I wouldn’t be surprised if after this season he is bought out.
Any time Duby wants to package Jarry in a trade that includes Zebras from the Ducks is fine by me . . .