Could a Semyon Varlamov extension with New York Islanders be coming soon?
Since the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline, netminder Semyon Varlamov voiced his desire to remain with the New York Islanders.
Varlamov, 35, becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1st but will he make it to free agency before signing his name on a contract extension?
Wednesday night at the 2023 NHL Draft, fellow New York Islanders reporter, Newsday's Andrew Gross, spotted something on the draft floor.
Varlamov played a career-low 23 games this season as Sorokin became the clear-cut starter.
He posted a 2.70 GAA with a .913 SV% -- both improvements from an injury, COVID-19 riddled 2021-22 campaign -- when he posted a 2.91 GAA with a .911 SV%.
When we spoke with Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello on Tuesday night in Nashville, he had no updates regarding his unrestricted free agents.
The expectation with Varlamov was that if he was to stay with the Islanders, he would need to take a paycut given their cap issues.
If New York could get Varlamov to sign a two to three-year deal around $2.5 million, that would do wonders as they move forward into free agency with a few other unrestricted free agents to retain.