NHL goalie set for remarkable comeback after a couple of knee replacement surgeries over two years

The New York Islanders are getting back a piece of their crease that seemed all but lost.

General manager Mathieu Darche told reporters this week that Varlamov will be a full participant when camp opens this month, capping a brutal two year stretch of pain, surgery and uncertainty.

Darche didn't hold back describing the turnaround, calling it almost a miracle, though he credited the work Varlamov put in to make it happen.

Varlamov hasn't suited up for an NHL game since Nov. 29, 2024, a stretch that eventually revealed how serious his knee issues were.

What started as a lower body injury spiraled into two separate knee replacement surgeries, a level of intervention rarely seen for an active goaltender.

The rehab stretched across two seasons, including a brief conditioning stint with AHL Bridgeport late last year, where he went 2-0 in his only game action since the injury began.

Islanders reporter Stefen Rosner shared more encouraging details from Darche's media session, noting Varlamov is now off medication and skating four to five times a week without pain, a sign the 38 year old netminder is trending the right way.

A healthy Varlamov changes the math for New York heading into next season.

Ilya Sorokin carried a heavy workload down the stretch last year, starting 18 of the final 19 games, and the lack of support behind him showed.

With Varlamov expected to play preseason games and free agent addition Vitek Vanecek also in the mix, the Islanders roll into camp with three goaltenders boasting real NHL experience for the first time in years.

It's fair to wonder how much Varlamov has left after all his body has been through, but for a franchise that spent two seasons bracing for the worst, having him back counts as a win.

Also read on House Of Hockey :
Stan Bowman reveals the injury behind Frederik Andersen's Oilers absence