The NYI are entering the 2026-27 season with a big bolster in the net thanks to returning veteran Semyon Varlamov: he is again fit enough to play in the crease.
Varlamov, 38, has not played in an NHL game since Nov. 29, 2024 following two procedures that have left him with extremely painful knees. The old timer has gone through a lot of rehabilitation before coming back to the game, but Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche states he does not feel a qual is skating to pain and has discontinued his medication.
After training camp, Varlamov should be a full partner and feature in the preseason contests. It’s a significant victory for an Islanders side that heavily depended on Ilya Sorokin last season.
Sorokin continued to play a critical role in the club, though his workload was an issue. He played in 18 out of 19 games this season for the New York team, so he did need an effective second option. Varlamov’s return would allow the Islanders to have a veteran that they could lean on in pressure moments and have on hand to help keep Sorokin fresh for the long season.
Varlamov has a solid history with New York, as well. He has a .916 save percentage, 16 shutouts and a 2.57 goals-against average in 173 career games with the Islanders. He demonstrated promising chip-kickers up earlier this year when he made 46 of 49 saves with Bridgeport in two games as a conditioning workout.
The Islanders also signed Vitek Vanecek on a one-year contract to get another seasoned goalie. Now that Varlamov has returned to the rotation, New York will have more options when considering its crease.
Varlamov’s return to the lineup might be one of the most significant on the list of play up developments of the offseason for the team seeking revenge on the playoffs. By keeping him healthy and having him start a substantial number of games, the Islanders could well have the depth to provide protection for Sorokin and bolster their goalies going forward for the first game.
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