Islanders’ Semyon Varlamov not expected to return for 2025-26 season
The New York Islanders got a bit more clarity on their crease in the wake of Friday’s Trade Deadline, as general manager Mathieu Darche announced that goaltender Semyon Varlamov is not expected to return to the lineup this season.
Darche says #Isles don't expect Varlamov back this season.
Darche made the announcement during a media availability after the trade deadline. There had already been a suspicion that Varlamov would not be returning to the lineup, but the announcement now confirms it.
Varlamov hasn’t played a game for the Islanders since November 24, 2024, as the netminder has missed the last 56 games of the 2024-25 season and all 63 of the 2025-26 season with a knee injury. He had undergone surgery for the injury in December 2024, and began skating in the 2025 offseason with the hope of returning this season, but there have been setbacks in that return. At this point in time, it’s unclear what has caused the delay of his return.
With Varlamov missing almost two seasons, there are now concerns about whether or not his career can continue. He’ll turn 38 years old next month, so missing as much time as he has at his age could complicate a return at this point. He will be entering the final year of a four-year contract with a $2.75 million cap hit next season, and will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027.
To prepare for Varlamov’s absence this season, the Islanders signed David Rittich to a one-year, $1 million contract to backup Ilya Sorokin. While Rittich’s standard stats aren’t overly pretty, as he has a 13-9-3 record with an .897 save percentage and two shutouts in 25 games played, a lot of that is on the Islanders’ defense, as he also has a 5v5 goals saved above expected of 10.63, according to Evolving Hockey‘s model.