The Pittsburgh Penguins employ Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic as their goalie tandem. However, the duo and Joel Blomqvist (15 games) combined to give up the third-most goals in the NHL in 2024-25.
Jarry is under contract for three more seasons with a $5.375 million cap hit, while Nedeljkovic will enter the final year of his deal, valued at $2.5 million. Meanwhile, in the system, Joel Blomqvist is an RFA in 2026-27 and will make $886,667 next season.
After the Finnish netminder on the depth chart is Filip Larsson ($775,000) and Russian phenom Sergei Murashov ($861,110). Murashov finished his first season in North America in the ECHL with some time in the AHL, compiling a 19-10-1 record between the two leagues. Finally, Taylor Gauthier, who had an outstanding season in the ECHL, is an RFA.
Ultimately, the Penguins' future goal is to turn Murashov into their franchise netminder. At 21, he's still not ready to compete in the NHL, unless the organization decides to throw in the towel in 2025-26 in hopes of landing Gavin McKenna.
Realistically, Captain Sidney Crosby would not buy into that plan, which means Pittsburgh should consider revamping its goalie platoon for better success next season.
Considering the shallow depth of available free agent goalies, some intriguing RFA names are in the pool. If the Penguins decide to move on from Jarry, whose buyout would save up to $3.6 million next year, his future is a hot-button topic amongst the fanbase; his potential buyout would free up some cap space to take a flyer on an RFA goalie.
When looking at the list of RFA goalies, the Penguins would have to take a number if they wanted to offer sheet the Anaheim Ducks' young goalie Lukas Dostal. According to CapWages.com, he's projected to get a salary increase to over $5 million.
Although he's young and talented, Dostal could be looking for a starting role. Despite decent numbers on a bottom team, he may not be the answer, especially if someone wants to offer him an eight-year contract.
After Dostal, there are a handful of potential candidates, like Arvid Soderblom (Chicago), Cayden Primeau (Montreal), Jakub Dobes (Montreal), and Danill Tarasov (Columbus). Still, the best option may be Joel Hofer of the St. Louis Blues.
If anyone remembers, the Blues stirred the pot last summer by acquiring Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers via an offer sheet, which means someone will be out to return the favor.
Furthermore, Jordan Binnington is the starter in St. Louis, carrying the team to their 2019 Stanley Cup title. He recently reestablished himself at the 4 Nations Face-off, leading Canada to the championship. So, Hofer becomes expandable with Binnington between the pipes at the right price.
CapWages.com projects Hofer could ink a two-year extension at $2.8 million. As mentioned, if Jarry is bought out, the Penguins would save roughly $3.6 million next season, which is more than enough to get Hofer into black and gold and still have some money left over. Especially with Nedeljkovic potentially coming off the books after next season, his spot can go to Blomqvist or Larsson, who is ready to be a 20-25-game backup.
Meanwhile, at 24, the Penguins could offer him a four-year deal, giving the organization plenty of time to let Murashov mature in the ECHL and AHL without suffering any significant setbacks at the NHL level.
Although some in the fanbase may think that another few seasons in the minors will "hold Murashov back," the New York Rangers did not let Igor Shesterkin see any NHL action until he was 24, and at 26, he won the Vezina Trophy.
Goalies develop at a different pace. Of course, there are exceptions to the rules, like Andrei Vasilevskiy, who started to play 50 games at 22, and Connor Hellebuyck, who skated over 50 games at 23.
At this point, the Penguins need a goalie tandem they can rely on night in and night out. Hofer debuted in 2021-22 and played two games (1-1) before playing in six (3-1-1) in 2022-23. For the past two seasons, he's played 61 games, compiling a 31-20-4 record with a 2.65 GAA, .909 SV%, and two shutouts.
Outside of his first two games, Hofer has yet to record a sub .900 SV% in any season and continues to lower his GAA from a career-high 3.22 in 2022-23.
Hofer won't be the long-term solution in the net and does not need a lengthy contract offer, especially since Jarry's five-year deal hasn't aged well. But suppose the goal is to get Murashov ready to take the baton in a couple of seasons. Why not put the Blues in an uncomfortable position with an offer sheet for their number two goalie, giving him a chance to become an NHL starter on a team with a new head coach and a burning desire to return to the postseason?
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