Skinner, Kulak, and Murashov involved in latest Penguins roster update

The Penguins officially welcomed their new players on Monday, completing the immigration requirements and integrating them into their team.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner and defensemen Brett Kulak, part of Friday's trade with Tristan Jarry, are now officially activated and have joined the team.

Their integration into the team had been delayed by Canadian visa requirements, which have since been cleared.

Skinner, 27, arrives off two consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Finals with the Oilers. Skinner has proven he can handle pressure in postseason play.

He now needs to prove he can maintain this level of performance to be a legitimate No. 1 goaltender and lead Pittsburgh from a rebuilding team to a championship-caliber team; this remains to be seen. Kulak, 31, provides a reliable lefty defense presence on a team in need.

Meanwhile, rookie goalie Sergei Murashov, who started Sunday and was part of the Penguins' latest third-period meltdown, has been re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Murashov stopped 32 of 37 shots, making several big saves in the first two periods to help them gain a 3-0 lead. However, as they have before, they allowed a quick spate of third-period goals before falling 5-4 in overtime.

Murashov's moments of brilliance are just a symptom of a larger problem: the Pens continue to have trouble closing out victories.

With Skinner and Kulak added to the roster, the Penguins hope to solidify both ends of the ice, with goaltending being a priority, in a season where every point counts.