Kyle Dubas opens up about Penguins goaltending battle ahead of 2026-27 season

The Pittsburgh Penguins hope for a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs during the 2026-27 campaign. Pittsburgh is looking at its young prospects to help out during the next campaign. Two of those prospects are goaltenders, in Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist.

Penguins management believes these two net minders have a chance to provide quality production.

“My full expectation is that the two of them, Sergei and Joel, will be competing for a roster spot here this year,” Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said, per NHL.com. “I think they both have earned, over years now, the chance to compete for that.”

Murashov was selected by Pittsburgh in the 2022 NHL Draft. He saw his first NHL action during the 2025-26 season.

“Murashov (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) could get his first extended look in the NHL after making his debut last season. He allowed four goals on 55 shots in his first three games before giving up eight on 50 shots in his final two and going back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League,” the outlet reported.

During the 2025-26 regular season, Pittsburgh posted 98 points. The Penguins defense struggled, as the team allowed 268 goals on the campaign. That was the most of any team in the Eastern Conference’s Metropolitan Division.

Pittsburgh clearly sees the goaltender position as a spot where the team could use extra help.

“Murashov, who is 36-12-4 with a 2.33 GAA and .917 save percentage in two AHL seasons, seems to have the edge,” the outlet reported.

Blomqvist meanwhile appeared in 15 games during the 2024-25 season for Pittsburgh. He started 12 games and posted four wins. He finished his campaign with a 3.81 GAA. He didn’t appear in any games for Pittsburgh during the 2025-26 season.

The Penguins made the playoffs this past season, before losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in a disappointing series.

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