The New York Islanders parting ways with Semyon Varlamov at the trade deadline seems possible but it should not happen. Varlamov, who signed a four-year contract worth $20 million is set to become a free agent after the 2022-23 season. The veteran netminder has started 88 games for the Islanders up until this point and as posted a 41-35-11 record with a 2.41 GAA and a .914 SV%. He has been worth every penny of his contract through his first three seasons.

Varlamov had high expectations coming into this season after having a Vezina-caliber season a year ago, but this season, Varlamov has only won three games with a 2.67 GAA and a .914 SV%. Those stats are similar to those from his 2019-20 season.

With the Islanders likely out of playoff contention, shedding cap space for a retool this offseason at the deadline is needed. If the Islanders feel shedding cap is necessary they can attempt to do so by moving other contracts. Moving Varlamov would save $5 million on the cap but doing that will do more harm than good in many areas.

Reason 1: Ilya Sorokin Is Not Ready to Be the Full-Time Starter

Semyon Varlamov has been an extreme mentor to Ilya Sorokin, and Sorokin has stepped in to play the majority of the Islanders’ games this year, but he is not ready to be a full-time NHL starter just yet. Sorokin’s time likely will and should come to the end of Varlamov’s contract but certainly not this season. Moving Varlamov and replacing him with an unknown option would only harm Sorokin. Sorokin, 26, has shown a lot of improvement from last season and has been nothing but superb since he’s started for the Islanders but it is too soon.

Reason 2: The Islanders Don’t Have a Backup Option

If Semyon Varlamov is dealt at the deadline the Islanders will have a hole to fill. The narrative that Jakub Skarek can fill the backup role is not true. Skarek has taken massive strides with the Bridgeport Islanders this season, but is definitely not NHL ready at just 22 years old. He has also missed time, as Cory Schneider and Ken Appleby have split the goaltending duties recently before he returned this past weekend. The Islanders have shown they have no interest in playing Schneider when he has been recalled. Barry Trotz continued to ride Sorokin on back-to-back occasions with Varlamov out.

If the Islanders still opted to take one of those options with Skarek, Schneider, or even Appleby for the remainder of this season and decided to pursue a goaltender in free agency it would still take a hit on the cap. Saving $2.5 million by moving Varlamov and signing or trading for a replacement isn’t worth it, especially for a weaker option.

Reason 3: Varlamov Crucial Part of Islanders Success

The Islanders would not have been as successful in past seasons if it wasn’t for the outstanding play of Semyon Varlamov, especially last season, which Varlamov finished fifth in Vezina voting, tied for first for shutouts, and posted a stellar 2.04 GAA. Moving on from Varlamov would separate one of the best tandems in the league with him and Sorokin. Even if the Islanders don’t make the playoffs this season, they will surely look to be back in contention next season, and with the help of Varlamov that will raise those chances. The Islanders have had success under Barry Trotz with a “1A/1B” tandem, seeing the pairings of Thomas Griess and Robin Lehner, Thomas Greiss and Semyon Varlamov, and most recently Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin.

It would be a mistake if the Islanders opted to trade Semyon Varlamov. His mentorship and level of play are worth more than shedding a few million dollars with uncertainty at the backup position. Varlamov should be an Islander past the trade deadline.

Jacob

Writer for Drive4Five covering the New York Islanders.