NY Islanders Have High Hopes for Semyon Varlamov This Season

Semyon Varlamov will have some pressure on him as the backup goalie for the New York Islanders.

Dec 3, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New York Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov (40) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

There aren’t many teams that are better positioned when it comes to the starting goaltender than the New York Islanders.

Ilya Sorokin has proven time and time again that he is one of the best in the business. Last season, he led the NHL with seven shutouts en route to finishing second in the Vezina Trophy voting, losing out to Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Sorokin carried the Islanders for most of the 2025-26 campaign and was a major reason why they overachieved. But he admittedly ran out of steam down the stretch, which torpedoed their playoff chances. The heavy workload eventually caught up to him, which makes the backup goalie job so important.

Right now, it will be Semyon Varlamov holding that spot, and the organization has high hopes for him to bounce back from a tumultuous stretch that included having surgeries to replace both knees.

Islanders counting on Semyon Varlamov to play significant role

Nov 25, 2024; Elmont, New York, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) (not pictured) scores a goal past New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) during the third period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

"'Varly,' all the credit to him and our medical staff on how hard he's worked and to get back to where he is," Darche said, via Jon Lane of NHL.com. "He could have just rode into the sunset and collect all the last paychecks of his contract, but I give him tons of credit with the work he's put in. He doesn't want to go out by not playing. He's a leader in his own way, so we'd be excited if he's able to, and that's what we plan right now, play all year."

The last time Varlamov played in an NHL game was Nov. 29, 2024, before he had to undergo procedures on his knees. He was sidelined completely until he made two starts with the Bridgeport Islanders on a conditioning assignment near the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Varlamov looked excellent in those two outings. He had a .939 save percentage and a 1.50 goals-against average. New York doesn’t even need that dominant of production out of him; they just need some steady play so that Sorokin isn’t stretched too thin again.

How many games do Islanders want from Semyon Varlamov?

Nov 19, 2024; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) guards his net against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Right now, the plan is for Varlamov to make 25-30 starts as the backup. That is asking a lot of a 38-year-old who hasn’t played consistently in over two years, but the backup position is an important one for the Islanders because Sorokin has had such a heavy workload, making 229 starts since 2022, which is the fourth most in the NHL.

That is a lot of pressure to put on Varlamov, but at least the franchise has a contingency plan in place in case he cannot handle the No. 2 job. In free agency, they signed veteran Vitek Vanecek to a one-year deal as Varlamov insurance.

Unlikely to carry three goalies on the NHL roster, training camp will be important for the goaltenders. If Varlamov is good to go, Vanecek is on the bubble as a cut candidate, with hopes that he will make it through waivers and could be placed in the AHL.