This week’s development camp is the first time that Penguins prospect Sergei Murashov, a 20-year-old goalie from Russia, has been in the U.S.
And he’s a fan.
“As for the culture of the USA, I like it,” Murashov said Monday. “I thought it would be very different than Russia, but it’s OK to adapt and I really like to be here.”
Does he like it enough to come over to North America this upcoming season?
He’s thinking hard about it. In a chat with local media, Murashov said he will decide in the next few days, or “maybe weeks,” where he will play in 2024-25. He said his options are remaining with Lokomotiv of the Kontinental Hockey League, joining another KHL team or coming over to the U.S. to play in the minors.
“To be honest, I need to make a decision where I’m going,” he said. “Because I have a different place for my next season. And this development camp is also for me to watch how it works in the USA, how Pittsburgh looks like and so on.”
He added that he will need to come to an agreement with Lokomotiv that will get him out of his contract and pave the way for him to sign with the Penguins.
Murashov plans to spend the next little bit contemplating what’s best for his future.
As for the present, Murashov, a 2022 fourth-round pick who catches with his right hand, has really enjoyed this five-day development camp, which wraps up Wednesday. Penguins goalie coach Andy Chiodo has been watching him like a hawk.
“He’s really a great coach,” said Murashov, who was taught English at his Russian school and is pretty fluent. “I like working with him. It’s a great experience for me. I really liked our ice practice, how we work and how we do meetings.”
Murashov in the last three seasons put up outstanding numbers in the second-tier Russian league. Last season, he got six starts for Lokomotiv in the KHL and went 3-1-2 with a .925 save percentage and a 1.84 goals-against average.
He found that KHL experience to be beneficial. Not only did it show him where his game needs improvement, it also reinforced to him the areas that are strengths. Murashov, who is now 6-foot-2 and 172 pounds, moves and tracks plays well.
“It’s really great. It’s high-level,” he said. “I really enjoyed every [KHL] game.”
As for his favorite goalies, Murashov said he tries to pick bits and pieces from the games of many NHL goalies, not just modeling himself after one. He watches a lot of countrymen Igor Shesterkin and Sergei Bobrovsky. He also claimed to closely track Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic, Pittsburgh’s current tandem.
The Penguins only have one Russian on their NHL roster right now — that Geno guy. Murashov has never met Evgeni Malkin but he hopes that will change.
“It would be a great honor for me to meet him,” he said, smiling sheepishly.
Matt Vensel: mvensel@post-gazette.com and @mattvensel on X
First Published: July 8, 2024, 4:53 p.m.
Updated: July 8, 2024, 5:08 p.m.
