The Pittsburgh Penguins have the chance to do something rare, and quite interesting, with their goaltending duo for the 2026-27 season. With uncertainty surrounding its two goaltenders, Pittsburgh may go with youth as its duo. GM Kyle Dubas may put the season on youngsters Joel Blomqvist and Sergei Murashov, but is this the best idea?
The Penguins could be preparing for a changing of the guard in goal
Pittsburgh and Dubas have an interesting situation ahead. Last season, their goaltending tandem for the most part was Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs. Both had some spectacular games where they stole points and played well. That was the duo where they could take the Penguins far in the playoffs. However, they had some stinkers. They had off nights like any other goaltenders and when they were bad they were bad. The team's goals against average (GAA) was 3.15 and allowed 258 goals, both not ideal and not the worst.
Silovs and Skinner were both acquired via trade to help the struggling Penguins' goaltending. They stabilized the sinking ship and got the team to the playoffs, but they ultimately got sent home in the first round. However, Penguins might be without them both, as Skinner is a unrestricted free agent (UFA) and Silovs is a restricted free agents (RFA). What happens if they both leave?
Pittsburgh's next goaltending tandem may already be in the organization
if both Skinner and Silovs leave via free agency, Pittsburgh and Dubas do not have to scramble to find quality goaltenders. They have two of them waiting for their shot and they both have affordable contracts.
Blomqvist is also a RFA but his youth and contract make him an intriguing piece to other teams. Dubas wants to make a smart play and bring him back even if his salary is doubled. Blomqvist is 24 years old and is a solid 6-foot-3. In 15 games with the Penguins last season, he posted a record of 4-9-1 with a 3.81 GAA and an .885 save percentage. Drafted by Pittsburgh with the 52nd pick in 2020, he could be the future between the pipes for the Penguins. His stats were not earth-shattering but he is young and he will improve with more games played. A talented goaltender, he should be brought back, provided he played well during his limited ice time.
Murashov is entering the third year of a three-year deal with $2.6 million. The 6-foot-2 goaltender is 22 years old and like Blomqvist performed well in limited action.. Pittsburgh drafted Murashov 118th overall in 2022 and he has developed nicely in a short amount of time. He has played only five games with the Penguins but put up a solid 1-1-2 record with a 2.56 GAA and a .897 save percentage. He was a star for the Penguins American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins. Last season, he posted a record of 24-9-4, with a 2.20 GAA and a .919 save percentage with four shutouts. The only thing that kept him away from a full-time roster with the Penguins was there was no room. This season he may be up as the backup to Blomquist with the opportunity to play between 20-30 games. He does have massive potential and is seen as a future starter between the Pittsburgh pipes.
This would be a risky move for Dubas to have these two as the goaltending duo next season. However, this is a risk that has the potential to have massive rewards. The Penguins drafted both because they knew their potential in the hopes of having one, or both, play the starter role. Come next season their wish may come true. Two goaltenders who are young and can play in either the NHL or AHL. They both have potential to lead this team and this offseason should be an interesting one for both.
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