Semyon Varlamov

Raised in Kuybyshev, Semyon Varlamov began tending goal at eight and developed through the VVS system before moving to Yaroslavl as a teenager. He rose quickly in Lokomotiv’s ranks, debuting with the club’s reserve side in 2004–05, earning the starting job in 2005–06 and helping Lokomotiv reach the Russian Superleague final in 2008.

Chosen 23rd overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2006 draft, Varlamov signed a three-year entry-level deal on 11 July 2007 and came to North America for 2008–09. He spent most of that year with the AHL Hershey Bears but made his NHL debut on 13 December 2008 against Montreal, a 2–1 win, and followed with a strong home debut a few days later against St. Louis.

The 2009 playoffs marked a breakthrough: inserted in relief in the first round against the Rangers, he posted multiple playoff shutouts and helped Washington advance to the second round, where he faced the Penguins. Competition for the starting role in Washington continued; he changed his number in 2010 and was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on 1 July 2011, then signed to a three-year, US$8.5 million contract the next day with the expectation he would be the club’s starter.

His Colorado tenure combined notable performances and setbacks: early success in 2011–12 interrupted by benchings and a late-season stumble, a return to Lokomotiv during the 2012 lockout where he led KHL measures briefly, and a tough 2012–13 campaign statistically. He signed a five-year extension in January 2014 but missed the 2016–17 season after hip surgery and suffered further injuries that affected the 2017–18 finish.

As a free agent he joined the New York Islanders on 1 July 2019 with a four-year, US$20 million deal. With the Islanders he set several franchise marks—consecutive playoff shutouts in 2020 and the franchise’s longest shutout streak—reached his 500th NHL game on 6 February 2021 and secured another four-year extension on 1 July 2023.