Semyon Varlamov fully back at Islanders camp after partial replacements in both knees

Semyon Varlamov, the 38-year-old goaltender with 17 NHL seasons under his belt, was a full participant in the New York Islanders’ first on-ice session of training camp as he bids for the backup job behind Ilya Sorokin. After a career spanning 621 games, including the regular season and playoffs, his return drew attention because of the procedures he underwent on both knees.

According to the NHL, both of Varlamov’s knees have undergone partial replacements, procedures performed after his last appearance for the Islanders on November 29, 2024. He said he was not ready to give up the game, that there were days of doubt, but that he now feels good and fully prepared for the first day of camp.

Over his NHL career, Varlamov has 289 wins, 232 losses and 71 ties with a 2.65 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage in 621 regular-season games (593 starts) with the Washington Capitals, Colorado Avalanche and Islanders since entering the league in 2008. In the playoffs, he has 32 wins, 30 losses, a 2.44 GAA, a .918 save percentage and four shutouts in 65 appearances (62 starts), helping New York reach the third round of the playoffs in 2020 and 2021.

The operations Varlamov underwent are unusual for professional athletes, and he himself described them as a risky step. His comeback bid was eased by two recent appearances with Bridgeport in the AHL, both of which he won while allowing only three goals, with a .939 save percentage. Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche called Varlamov’s case a “case study” for surgeons and noted how good the goaltender looks and moves without medication. New captain Bo Horvat also praised him for his performances and his physical condition on the ice.

Varlamov is in the final year of a four-year contract and is competing with Vitek Vanecek for the backup role. Darche has expressed a desire for him to play 25–30 games this season, but the goaltender says he is taking it one day at a time, focusing on preparation and his role as a teammate. The team opens with four preseason games, the first against the New Jersey Devils this Sunday, while the first official game of the season is set for September 30 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As the NHL reports, the club will closely monitor how his body responds during camp and the preseason to decide how realistic it is for Varlamov to handle a planned workload over the season.