Pittsburgh Penguins' Goalie Move Raises Many Questions for Opening Night
Photo credit: The Hockey News
The Pittsburgh Penguins have decided to send Sergei Murashov back down to the AHL, which has raised many questions, especially since he played so well.
Penguins fans deserve to watch the best goalie play when the season starts. They deserve the finest goalie anyone can provide, and in September, that was without question Sergei Murashov.
Not only did he win games, but he also dominated them. Both his play on the ice in his game and Kyle Dubas's preseason words had us anticipating Murashov being the one staring down Igor Shesterkin on opening night at Madison Square Garden. Instead, he's returning to Wilkes-Barre.
"The best two goalies, the way they perform in camp and we deem as best for their development - but notably the way they perform at camp and preseason - will determine who the two goalies are that start with the Penguins. Their contract situations, none of that matters."
- Kyle Dubas
- Kyle Dubas
Dubas had facetiously stated that the top goalies in camp would get on the team, contract and age disregarded. That never materialized.
The Penguins' top performer was 21-year-old Murashov, who showed athleticism and calmness and had a .935 save percentage. Tristan Jarry and Arturs Silovs, the goaltenders left behind, were far from that level, with .889 and .904, respectively.
Sergei Murashov set a Franchise Record Winning 11 AHL Games in a row Last Season
Murashov is no one-trick pony, either. He was the first Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rookie ever to go 11 wins in a row in net last season.
Sure, he's rough around the edges, but you never know unless you give the youngster the crease. If Murashov had stumbled, he could have been sent back down. But now we'll never know if he was ready.
Instead, the Penguins are sticking with a tandem that inspires little confidence and a general manager whose track record with goaltenders doesn't inspire much more.
Dubas has talked about how well they would play. Murashov has. And when the Penguins hit the ice in New York, the most deserving goalie won't be there, which is like a missed shot for everyone.
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