Should the Islanders Trade Semyon Varlamov?
As the March 21 NHL Trade Deadline approaches, the Islanders will likely be in a position to retool their roster. They may not be looking to part ways with major pieces, but players with a year or two left on their contracts are the likely trade pieces. And perhaps the Isles’ most lucrative trade chip is goaltender Semyon Varlamov.
Varlamov’s name has been in the rumor mill for weeks, and a team that is desperate for goaltending could pay a nice price to get him. However, the Islanders could use him next year if they want to compete for the Stanley Cup again. So, is it worth it for the team to trade him?
The Case For Trading
In his three seasons as an Islander, Varlamov has been one of the better goalies in hockey with a 41-34-11 record, 2.39 goals against average and .920 save percentage in 96 appearances. Despite a bad record this season, Varlamov has maintained his fine form thus far with a 2.57 GAA and .916 SV%, both above his career averages. A team could be willing to pay the price to get Varlamov for their tandem entering the home stretch. Not to mention, he has an extra year at $5 million, as well, so he can stabilize the net for the short-term.
The other reason falls in the Islanders’ court. Varlamov has split time with Ilya Sorokin the last two seasons, and the latter has made strides since arriving on Long Island. With a 27-16-8 record, 2.34 GAA and .920 SV%, the Islanders may consider giving Sorokin the reigns of the net. With this in mind, the Islanders could use this as a way to see where Sorokin is at and evaluate if he’s ready to take the mantle. Even if he is not ready, then they could address the backup goaltending spot in free agency this summer.
The Case Against Trading
The main issue against trading Varlamov lies in the uncertainty of the Islanders’ situation. With the team eyeing a potential retool, it is entirely possible the Islanders may want to stick with what normally works, and that’s a split in goaltending. The past few seasons, the Islanders have rolled with 1A and 1B options in net. Whether it be Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss, Varlamov and Greiss, or Varlamov and Sorokin, their tandems have consistently found success. However, considering the success of the latter option, if the Islanders want to be competitive for the 2022-23 season, maintaining Varlamov could be key for that goal.
The other thing to consider also lies in Sorokin as well. While he has done great things since his NHL debut, all of that was done in tandem with Varlamov. Once Varlamov leaves, it is entirely possible that Sorokin could struggle a bit, and that could hurt his confidence. As a result, if the Islanders feel Sorokin isn’t ready to take over full time yet, Varlamov could stick around for a little bit longer to help finish the transition. If the offseason comes around and the Islanders think Sorokin is ready then, they can revisit a Varlamov trade a few months down the road. However, if the Islanders want to continue to aid Sorokin’s development, keeping his fellow Russian counterpart could help him out.
As a result, when considering all the variables, a Varlamov trade is an interesting debate. Yes, Varlamov has been one of the better goalies in hockey over the last few years and has over a year of control left — his value could be high. However, if the Islanders want to have a bounce back year next season, keeping him around is vital for their plans.
Although goalie trades are fairly uncommon in the NHL, there are teams that could be looking for much-needed goalie help for their postseason run. The Edmonton Oilers are a team that is eyeing Varlamov, according to Andrew Gross, and there are likely other teams considering trading for him. Although the Islanders’ asking price is unknown as of right now, the Islanders have an interesting decision to make as the Trade Deadline approaches.
I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.
