Overview
- GM Mathieu Darche said Wednesday that veteran goaltender Semyon Varlamov is expected to be a full participant in the Islanders’ 2026 training camp and will see action in preseason games.
- Varlamov missed most of the past two seasons after multiple knee surgeries and long rehab but has been practicing frequently with no pain or medication.
- Late in 2025-26 he completed a conditioning stint with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders, appearing in two games and winning both as part of his return-to-play progression.
- With Varlamov healthy the Islanders will bring three experienced NHL goalies to camp — Varlamov, starter Ilya Sorokin, and free-agent signing Vitek Vanecek — which gives the team more insurance and options to manage minutes during the regular season.
- Varlamov, who joined New York in 2019 and helped the team reach the 2020 Eastern Conference Final, returns to a club that leaned heavily on Sorokin last year and now has more depth for the 2026-27 campaign.