Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov plays for AHL Bridgeport affiliate in first game action since 2024

HARTFORD, Conn. — Being able to play for the Islanders’ AHL Bridgeport affiliate on Wednesday night in his first game since Nov. 29, 2024 after undergoing partial knee replacements on both knees was an emotional milestone for goalie Semyon Varlamov.

But it was not the end of his comeback journey. Just the next, important step.

“That’s why I’m pushing myself,” Varlamov, who turns 38 on April 27, told Newsday. “I’m not just pushing myself to come back and play one game. My goal is to come back and play in the NHL. That’s why I took time and did rehab the right way. I’m really thankful for all the people who worked with me.”

Varlamov made 18 saves as playoff-bound Bridgeport beat Hartford, the Rangers’ affiliate, 5-2, at PeoplesBank Arena. He was reassigned to Bridgeport on Tuesday for a conditioning assignment that can last three games or six days, whichever comes first, and Varlamov is not eligible to play in the AHL postseason.

Bridgeport coach Rocky Thompson told Newsday it was up to him whether Varlamov gets a second start and he had yet to make that choice. Thompson added if Varlamov plays again it would be on Friday night at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

“I just thought he looked normal, like a good goalie,” Thompson said after Wednesday’s match. “I don’t know what I’m looking at when it comes to goaltending except that I can spot bad goaltending and that’s not what he was. He looked at home. He’s a pro. He came in and shook our hands and then thanked us and said how well the team played in front of him. He acknowledged that.”

Bridgeport staked Varlamov to a 4-0 lead in the first period. Hartford’s Bryce McConnell-Barker, open at the crease, shoveled a power-play goal through Varlamov’s pads at 19:00 of the first period and Trey Fix-Wolansky, rushing up the right wall, beat Varlamov over his blocker at 9:57 of the third period.

But Varlamov looked comfortable going down to his knees and bouncing up quickly and made a strong pad save with Hartford skating six-on-five 33 seconds before Luke Rowe clinched it with an empty-netter.

“It means a lot,” Varlamov said of being able to play again. “I cannot even describe it. I don’t think I even realized what happened today with all that stuff in the past that I went through. I’m so glad I was able to play a game this year and feel good and get through the game without any issues. It was very, very big.”

A large contingent of Islanders’ executives, including assistant general manager Chris Lamoriello, goalie coach Sergei Naumovs, director of goaltending development and scouting Chris Terreri, director of player development Eric Cairns and mental performance consultant Siana Sylvester were in attendance.

Varlamov, in the third season of a four-year, $11 million deal, had last played in the Islanders’ 5-4 overtime loss in Washington 17 months ago, making 21 saves. He said at last season’s breakup day he expected to be ready for this season’s training camp. But it wasn’t until late this season that he was even able to join his teammates for practice, instead spending most of the season working on his own. For a long time, just going down to the ice was a huge obstacle.

“I did partial knee replacements on both knees,” Varlamov said. “It wasn’t a full knee replacement but that’s why it took me a long time to come back.

“I think by December (2024) the goal was to come back and then get ready for the training camp. The toughest part for me was I didn’t know the timeline. I had to set the timeline for myself and then work toward the date. It didn’t happen in September so I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to try to come back in December.’ Then January, February. Finally, things started turning around I’d say two months ago when I started skating with the team more and taking more shots and started feeling better and better each day.”

Now, the goal is to rejoin the Islanders on a full-time basis.

General manager Mathieu Darche was asked on Wednesday during the Islanders’ breakup day whether Varlamov was a viable option for next season.

“Yes, he is,” Darche said.

“I’m impressed with Varly. He could just ride off and get his salary for the next two years and say, ‘Hey, I’ve had a great career.’ It’s a lot of work. You saw him every single day on the ice, even when we’re on the road. So I give him all the credit. He feels great right now.”

David Rittich, the current backup to No. 1 Ilya Sorokin, is a pending unrestricted free agent completing a one-season, $1 million deal.

“He has so much respect,” Rittich said of Varlamov. “Not just from me, from every single guy in this room. He went through two surgeries, through tough times and he’s still trying to get back. Such an unbelievable person.”

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.