Sergei Murashov, a 21-year-old Russian goaltender, is quickly making a name for himself within the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, leading some to wonder if he could be the next great netminder from Russia to don the black and gold. Drafted in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Murashov has transitioned to North American hockey with remarkable success.

Before joining the Penguins organization, Murashov played for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in both the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and the MHL, Russia's top developmental league. In the MHL, he recorded an impressive 73-30-12 record with a 2.04 goals-against average (GAA), a .934 save percentage, and 22 shutouts in 125 appearances. His stellar performance earned him the title of MHL's Best Goalkeeper in the 2022-23 season. He also played in seven KHL games, posting a 4-1-2 record with a 1.71 GAA and a .928 save percentage.

Murashov's transition to North America began with a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins signed in June 2024. After attending the team's development camp, he was assigned to the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. He excelled in the ECHL, posting a 17-7-1 record with a 2.40 GAA and a .922 save percentage over 26 games. His outstanding play led to a promotion to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL).

In the AHL, Murashov continued his impressive performance. Notably, he set a franchise record for the longest winning streak by a rookie goalie, with 10 consecutive victories. Through November 4, 2025, Murashov had a 5–2–0 record with a 1.73 GAA, a .931 save percentage and one shutout for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

His early success in North America led to a significant milestone: Murashov was recalled to the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 4, 2025, after Tristan Jarry was placed on injured reserve. He made his NHL debut on November 9 against the Los Angeles Kings, saving 24 of 27 shots in a 3-2 loss. This debut marked him as only the second Russian goalie to play for the Penguins, following Alexander Pechursky.

While it is still early in his North American career, Murashov's performance has generated considerable excitement within the Penguins organization. His quick adaptation to the North American game, combined with his impressive statistics and accolades from his time in Russia, suggest that he has the potential to become a valuable asset for the Penguins in the future. Whether he can reach the heights of some of the legendary Russian goaltenders who have played in the NHL remains to be seen, but Sergei Murashov has certainly put himself on the right path.