Islanders shed light on Semyon Varlamov

Varlamov’s Long Recovery Journey Continues

TORONTO — Semyon Varlamov has been sidelined for a staggering 16 months, primarily due to two knee replacement surgeries, as Islanders coach Patrick Roy revealed after Varlamov took part in practice briefly on Monday.

Varlamov was seen practicing at a different rink alongside Pierre Engvall and Alexander Romanov before he joined the main group to take some shots during warm-ups.

This marked his first involvement in any team practice since his injury back in November 2024.

“That’s fantastic for him,” Roy commented. “He’s really put in the effort to get to this point. I mean, two knee replacements? That’s no small feat for a goalie. Still, he’s been dedicated and done everything right.”

Details regarding whether the same knee was operated on twice or the precise timeline of the surgeries have not been shared.

The last time Varlamov addressed the media was during last season’s breakup day, where he mentioned having knee surgery in December and expressed optimism about returning to play this season.

The Islanders appeared hopeful about his return until July, when they acquired David Rittich as a backup plan. However, by training camp, it became clear Varlamov wouldn’t be returning anytime soon.

General manager Mathieu Darche confirmed at the trade deadline that Varlamov would not play this season but noted he is continuing his rehabilitation, likely aiming to make a comeback next year.

If Varlamov can actually return to the NHL after such major surgeries and a lengthy recovery period, it would be quite remarkable.

“He’s focused on getting back into action,” Matt Barzal shared with reporters. “He was always the last one around, stretching and working on his knee. We had our surgeries around the same time. There was never a point where he thought about giving up; it was always about when he could get back.”