No one but no one would have blinked twice had Semyon Varlamov decided, off two knee replacements, to take the money he was owed, count his blessings for a long career and hang up his skates.
Instead, Varlamov, some 502 days from his last NHL game and 12 days from his 38th birthday, was in Hartford, Conn. on Wednesday night to make his return to competitive hockey as part of a conditioning assignment with AHL Bridgeport.
Who knows whether his comeback is ultimately successful. Who can even say what success would look like in this context. The fact that Varlamov was even trying, and had gotten as far as practicing in recent weeks, had his teammates and general manager blown away.
“He’s Iron Man,” Ilya Sorokin said. “Totally. He’s a big professional. He works hard. Every day that I see on the rink is positive. A good mind. Can’t wait for when I see him in a game.”
“We have so much respect for him,” David Rittich said. “Not just me. From every single guy in this room. Even through the tough times, still trying to get back. Nothing but respect to Varly.”
Since he’s on a conditioning loan, Varlamov isn’t eligible to play in the postseason with Bridgeport. He’ll be there for just six days, with the possibility to play a second game over the weekend if things go well.
Darche declined to say whether Varlamov — whose two knee replacements were revealed unwittingly by then-coach Patrick Roy earlier this season — had the same knee replaced twice or both done separately. But he did say that Varlamov “had procedures on both of his knees.”
Exactly how that impacts the Islanders’ plans at goaltender, where Rittich is an unrestricted free agent, is unclear.
General manager Mathieu Darche said Varlamov is considered an option going forward, but it’s hard to believe the Islanders can go into next year without Rittich — or someone of similar standing — given the total unknown around Varlamov.
Still, it says a whole lot that he’s trying.
“He might play one game this weekend and see where it goes for next year,” Darche said. “But I’m telling you, from what the doctors were saying to where he is — it’s like Gabe Landeskog [in Colorado]. For three years, he didn’t play, people said he’s done. Now he’s playing hockey. A lot of credit to Varly.”
Tony DeAngelo and Rittich, both pending unrestricted free agents, said they wanted to return to the Islanders next season.
Cal Ritchie, Isaiah George, Victor Eklund and Liam Foudy will all rejoin AHL Bridgeport for the playoffs. Ritchie played just three games in the AHL this season before being called up, but the Islanders want him to get playoff experience.
Matthew Schaefer, Adam Pelech, Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom all said they were open to playing at World Championships if asked. Bo Horvat did not rule it out, but having played in the Olympics, said the year “has been a lot. Not only physically, but mentally, it’s been a long year.”
Ryan Pulock was dealing with knee and shoulder injuries and “hanging by a thread” at the end of the season, according to Darche. Pulock said he expects to be ready for camp, but the shoulder may need surgery to resolve. The knee is more of a “little issue,” Pulock said, which came up in the last few weeks, whereas the shoulder was a season-long problem.
DeAngelo has been dealing with a groin issue, and Max Shabanov with a rib injury, Darche said.
Kyle Palmieri (torn ACL) said he has a couple months left of rehab, but is optimistic about having a normal summer after that and should be back for training camp.
Alexander Romanov (shoulder) confirmed that he had a good chance of returning had the Islanders made the playoffs, and expects to have a fairly normal offseason.
Quinn Finley, whose season at Wisconsin ended last weekend at the Frozen Four, is also headed to Bridgeport. Finley signed a two-year entry-level deal Wednesday morning that begins next season, and will sign an ATO to join Bridgeport this year. The 2022 third-rounder had 33 points in 37 college games this season.
2025 second-round pick Daniil Prokhorov left to come over from Russia on Wednesday, though it is not clear if he will play right away at Bridgeport.
No decisions have been made as yet on the assistant coaching staffs or front office staffs. Darche and coach Pete DeBoer will meet over the next few days on the coaching staff; Darche said he liked his staff in the front office, but stopped short of saying definitively that they will all return.
Darche clarified that there are no plans for Roy to stay with the organization in a scouting capacity.
