Penguins Have Big Decision To Make On Their Goalie Situation
Josh Yohe of The Athletic reported this week that Stuart Skinner is unlikely to return when he hits unrestricted free agency on July 1, that the organization is expected to re-sign Arturs Silovs as a restricted free agent, and that Sergei Murashov is regarded internally as ready to step into an NHL role next season.
What Happened to Skinner
Skinner was acquired from Edmonton in the Tristan Jarry trade and brought exactly what the Penguins needed in terms of locker room presence and playoff experience for a 27-year-old.
On the ice, the results were okay but nothing more, similar to his time in Edmonton.
He posted a 2.99 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage across 27 games in Pittsburgh, and finished the playoffs with a 3.08 goals-against average and an .873 save percentage among goalies with at least three appearances, second-to-last in that category.
"I don't know if I fully see it with Skinner, but I do think you could do a whole hell of a lot worse as a backup."
— PHLY Flyers (@PHLY_Flyers) June 2, 2026
Would you be interested in Stuart Skinner as a backup to Dan Vladar for the Flyers? pic.twitter.com/noiBbIOdV7
One team source told Yohe that Skinner's physical attributes were described as limited, and that the organization believes Murashov and Silovs carry higher ceilings.
The Penguins loved having Skinner in the building and the locker room impact was good, but with a rising salary cap creating more spending power around the league, Dubas expects Skinner to attract significant multi-year money from another team.
Pittsburgh does not intend to match it.
The Case for Silovs
Silovs had a difficult regular season but saved his best for the playoffs when it mattered most.
He posted a 1.52 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage in the postseason, the second-best goals-against average among all playoff goalies, before Pittsburgh's season ended in six games.
TRADE ALERT:
— PuckEmpire (@puckempire) July 13, 2025
Penguins acquire:
Arturs Silovs
Canucks acquire:
Chase Stillman
2027 fourth-round pick pic.twitter.com/9ZUTUx2zed
He is a restricted free agent and all reporting indicates he will be re-signed, likely on a short-term bridge deal that gives both sides time to fully evaluate whether he has the consistency to be a legitimate starter at the NHL level.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now noted the Silovs-Murashov tandem looks to be a future strength, with one or potentially both capable of developing into a number one option, though acknowledged the goaltending situation carries real risk until the netminders' games mature.
Murashov Is the Real Story
The most important goaltending news coming out of Pittsburgh this summer has nothing to do with either Skinner or Silovs.
Murashov posted a 24-9-4 record with a 2.20 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage for AHL Wilkes-Barre this season, finishing third in the AHL in both goals-against and save percentage.
He followed that with a .936 save percentage through 12 Calder Cup playoff appearances, leading the AHL Penguins to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Toronto Marlies.
In five NHL appearances this season, he showed composure beyond his 22 years, and a shutout in Stockholm during a November recall gave the organization its first real close-up look at what they have.
The Penguins have reportedly been deliberate about not rushing his development, but the numbers suggest the natural timeline has arrived on its own terms.
With Skinner departing and Silovs returning on a manageable deal, Murashov steps into a legitimate backup role next season with a clear path to the starting position behind him if Silovs cannot sustain the playoff-level consistency in a full regular season workload.
Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
.jpg)
