Semyon Varlamov will step back into an NHL crease Tuesday night when the New York Islanders visit the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, making his first League start since Nov. 29, 2024. The 38-year-old is scheduled to get the call for the 7:30 p.m. ET matchup, available on ESPN and SN+.
It is a return that once looked far from certain. Varlamov underwent partial replacements in both knees, then spent a long rehabilitation weighing whether his playing career had reached its end. He said last month that retirement entered his thoughts during the difficult stretches, but he never felt mentally prepared to walk away.
“I wasn’t ready to retire in my mind,” Varlamov said. “There were days when things were hard and I wondered whether I could return. But from the first day of training camp, I felt completely healthy again. I’m excited to be back playing.”
The first encouraging signs came late last season in Bridgeport. Varlamov made two American Hockey League appearances, won both, and surrendered only three goals while posting a .939 save percentage. Those outings helped turn an ambitious comeback into a realistic option for the Islanders.
General manager Mathieu Darche said the goaltender’s recovery has impressed everyone around the club, particularly because Varlamov has returned without needing medication and has looked like himself on the ice. Darche said team staff have seen no meaningful change in Varlamov’s movement, calling the veteran’s work through rehab an inspiration for the room.
“He could have simply finished out the final two years of his contract after a terrific career,” Darche said. “Instead, he put in the work and now he feels great.”
Darche has said he hopes to use Varlamov in 25 to 30 games this season, giving the Islanders a veteran partner for Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin opened the season in net for each of New York’s first two games, leaving the club at 1-1-0. He stopped all 37 shots in Saturday’s 6-0 win over the New Jersey Devils.
A familiar building for Varlamov
Madison Square Garden has been one of Varlamov’s strongest road rinks. In 14 career games there, he owns a 10-3-1 record, a 2.29 goals-against average, a .928 save percentage and four shutouts. Since joining the Islanders, he is 5-1-0 at the Garden with a 1.55 goals-against average in six appearances, and all four of his shutouts in the building have come in an Islanders uniform.
Across 621 regular-season games with the Washington Capitals, Colorado Avalanche and Islanders, Varlamov has compiled a 289-232-71 record, a 2.65 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage and 41 shutouts. His postseason ledger includes a 32-30 mark, 2.44 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and four shutouts in 65 games. He was part of the Islanders teams that reached the Stanley Cup Playoff semifinals in both 2020 and 2021.
Varlamov knows the medical path he chose was unusual. He said other people have undergone the procedures, but he was unaware of a professional hockey player attempting to resume his career after the same surgeries. He called the decision risky, but one he was willing to make for another chance to play.
