Semyon Varlamov will be seeking one thing as he and the Islanders gear up for the playoffs: Redemption.
It was in 2014, where Varlamov was a Vezina Trophy finalist and got to experience postseason hockey for the first time as a member of the dominant Colorado Avalanche. That season, Varlamov and the Avs were the second-best team in the Western Conference and cruised to the playoffs, being matchup up with the pesky Minnesota Wild in the opening round.
The series went the distance, and Colorado was stunned by the Wild, losing the series when ex-Islander Nino Niederreiter scored in overtime of the deciding game seven.
The entire series was a nightmare for Varlamov. He gave up 20 goals in seven starts, including ten in the final two games. In that pivotal seventh game, Varlamov was unable to keep Minnesota at bay even after his team gave him four one-goal leads to work with.Â
Six years later, the 32-year-old has yet to play in the postseason since. But now he will get his shot to exorcise some inner demons that played out in that series.
No date has been confirmed as to when the NHL will begin its 24-team postseason; they did announce that July 10th is when full training camps can commence. Varlamov, who went back home during quarantine, has yet to return to New York to take part in small workouts during Phase 2 of the league’s return to play plan.
When camp does begin, it’s assumed most likely he will get the nod from head coach Barry Trotz when, and if, the Islanders begin their qualifying round series with the Florida Panthers.
Varlamov was basically the number-one in net for the Isles in the regular season — his first on Long Island. He got a majority of starts with Thomas Greiss as his 1A. Varlamov got off to a solid start and played well the first three months of the season, which garnered him All-Star consideration. After that, he began to struggle, as did the Islanders as a whole, mostly in part due to injuries to key players.
Before the coronavirus pandemic shutdown the Isles’ season and the entire NHL for that matter, Varlamov had begun to play somewhat better. Still, he had gone winless in last five starts.
That stretch of losing is now thrown out the window.
It’s essentially a new season for the Islanders, and it’s a fresh start for every player in that locker room. For Varlamov, the stakes being raised — plus not appearing in the postseason in quite a while — should be enough motivation for him to redeem himself from his ugly performance all those years ago.
The Russian native was brought to the organization last summer because of what GM Lou Lamoriello saw in him. It’s no secret that Lamoriello wanted Varlamov and only him two years prior, as several reports have stated before he went and signed free agent Robin Lehner to a one-year deal.
Some can believe that narrative has run its course, but it still has value now more than ever. The playoffs are a different animal. It’s where the stars shine the brightest, and any moment can change the outcome of the game or series. Especially goalies. They can be the x-factor in a series, and if they get hot, they can steal games.
The Islanders need Varlamov to be that clutch performer.
Every postseason there’s always a player who needs or wants to make a statement. Well, in the Isles case, Semyon Varlamov is one of them.
He’s seeking redemption, and hopefully, he is able to get it.