Semyon Varlamov returns to Islanders crease after two-year injury layoff

Semyon Varlamov is set to make his long-awaited return to NHL action on Tuesday night, when the New York Islanders visit the New York Rangers in a rivalry matchup. Head coach Pete DeBoer confirmed after the morning skate that the veteran netminder will get the start, marking his first NHL appearance in almost two years.

Knee surgery and setbacks kept Varlamov out nearly two seasons

Varlamov has not played an NHL game since November 24, 2024. A knee injury forced him to miss the final 56 games of the 2024-25 season and then all 82 games in 2025-26. He underwent surgery in December 2024 and resumed skating in the 2025 off-season with hopes of returning last year, but setbacks pushed his comeback timeline further.

At 38 years old, retirement could have been a realistic option, yet Varlamov continued to work toward another opportunity in the league. His path back included a late-season conditioning stint in the American Hockey League with the Bridgeport Islanders, designed to test both his health and game form.

That brief AHL assignment offered encouraging signs. In two starts for Bridgeport, Varlamov posted a 1.50 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage, winning both games. Those numbers stand in contrast to his last NHL season before the injury, when he recorded a 3-4-3 record, an .889 save percentage and 2.34 five-on-five goals saved above expected over 10 games in 2024-25.

Islanders get veteran boost as contract enters final year

Varlamov’s comeback coincides with the final season of his four-year contract, which carries a $2.75 million cap hit. He is on track to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027, adding a longer-term layer of intrigue to how his season unfolds in goal for New York.

The Islanders have opened the schedule with mixed results in the Metropolitan Division. They dropped a tight 2-1 decision to the Toronto Maple Leafs on opening night, then responded with a 6-0 shutout win over the New Jersey Devils. They will try to build on that dominant performance, along with the emotional lift of Varlamov’s return, when they face the Rangers on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Beyond the immediate storyline of his comeback, this start will give the Islanders a clearer picture of where Varlamov stands after such a long layoff and how he might fit into their goaltending plans for the rest of the season.