- Semyon Varlamov is set to play his first NHL game since Nov. 29, 2024 when the Islanders visit the Rangers on Tuesday
- The 38-year-old goalie spent the better part of 22 months rehabbing from double partial knee replacements
- Read below for what Varlamov and Pete DeBoer said about the comeback
Semyon Varlamov is going back in an NHL net for the first time in almost two years.
The 38-year-old Islanders goalie is scheduled to play Tuesday night against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, his first NHL appearance since Nov. 29, 2024. He was asked about the return after the morning skate.
“I’m excited to play tonight. I’m looking forward to going on the ice and playing in this game. I’m very excited. It’s about that time of the year.”
What sat between those two dates was double partial knee replacements and the better part of 22 months of rehab. Islanders GM Mathieu Darche called the comeback “almost a miracle” earlier this month.
Varlamov opened training camp last week by admitting the thought of walking away crossed his mind more than once.
“I wasn’t ready to retire mentally. I just wasn’t there. There were definitely some days it was on my mind when things were not going well.”
Hear from Varlamov on the first day of camp:
He also explained why the timeline never firmed up. Hockey players do not get these surgeries.
“People are doing it, but not professional hockey players to try to come back. That was kind of like a crazy idea, a very risky idea, but I took a risk and then had to do a lot of rehab, and then just had to be very, very patient.”
Pete DeBoer, in his first full season behind the Islanders bench, was asked Tuesday what the night means for his veteran goalie.
“It’s been quite a journey for him. He got in those American League games at the end of last year, so it’s not like it’s his first game action, but first game action at the NHL level after a long rehab. I’m really excited for him.”
Watch DeBoer’s morning skate availability:
Those two AHL starts were all the game action Varlamov got. He went 2-0-0 for Bridgeport in April and stopped 46 of 49 shots.
Ilya Sorokin splits Tuesday’s game with him. DeBoer said each goalie gets a full game before the preseason wraps up.
Tuesday is game No. 622 of Varlamov’s NHL career. None of the first 621 took this long to reach.
