For nearly two years, Semyon Varlamov’s NHL career looked like it might be over.
Two knee surgeries and a long recovery kept the former Colorado Avalanche goaltender away from the game, with each passing month making a return seem less likely.
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Now, at 38 years old, Varlamov is getting ready to come back.
And for Avalanche fans, his story may sound familiar.
Varlamov is about to have his own Gabe Landeskog moment.
The veteran goaltender is expected to be a full participant when the New York Islanders open training camp later this month. He last played in an NHL game on Nov. 29, 2024.
Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche described Varlamov’s return as “almost a miracle,” while making it clear the goaltender has earned the opportunity through months of hard work.
“He’s doing great, actually. It’s almost a miracle,” Darche told NHL.com. “Well, it’s not a miracle because he’s really put in the work.”
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Varlamov has been skating four or five times a week and is doing so without pain or medication. The Islanders expect him to play in preseason games as he works his way back.
For someone who hasn’t played an NHL game in nearly two years, that’s a remarkable development.
Varlamov spent eight seasons with the Avalanche from 2011-12 through 2018-19, serving as their starting goaltender through a difficult stretch in franchise history. He played 389 games in Colorado, posting a 2.79 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.
He’s been with the Islanders since, but injuries have continued to plague the veteran, limiting him to just 10 games during the 2024-25 season.
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At that point, it was reasonable to wonder whether Varlamov had played his final NHL game.
Landeskog knows that feeling all too well.
The Avalanche captain missed nearly three full seasons because of a serious knee injury, leaving plenty of doubt about whether he would ever return. He eventually did, making his long-awaited comeback during the 2025-26 season.
Now Varlamov is trying to write a similar comeback story.
The circumstances are different, but the uncertainty is familiar. A veteran player with a long history of knee problems appeared to be nearing the end of his career, only to find a way back onto the ice.
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Varlamov has already played 621 NHL games, recording a .916 save percentage and 41 shutouts during his career.
He doesn’t have anything left to prove.
But nearly two years after his last NHL appearance, Varlamov is getting another chance to add to his career.
For the Avalanche fans who watched him guard Colorado’s net for eight seasons, that’s pretty special.
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