Which Teams Might Trade for Semyon Varlamov?
The New York Islanders are looking more and more like sellers at the NHL trade deadline, and Semyon Varlamov could be on his way out.
As the deadline approaches, the team will be looking to sell off pieces to acquire assets for the future. Varlamov has had a decent season with a .912 save percentage and a 2.85 goals against average in 18 games despite a 4-12-1 record.
He’s not the goalie that finished fifth in last year’s Vezina Trophy voting but has still been very reliable. Varlamov has one more year left on his contract until becoming an unrestricted free agent. The Islanders shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to trade his $5 million in cap hit before his value sinks any further. Perhaps a team that trades for him could help him get back on track.
Washington Capitals
The Capitals currently sit fourth in the Metropolitan Division and hold the second wild card spot. The Capitals have struggled to find stable goaltending since the departure of Braden Holtby. Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek have underperformed, with neither taking over the starting role. Varlamov was originally drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2006. With the team now in need of stable goaltending, bringing back Varlomov could solve that issue.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights currently occupy the second Western Conference wild card spot with 68 points. Vegas, after making a blockbuster trade to acquire Jack Eichel, was poised to be Stanley Favorites. However, the team’s goaltending has been shaky. Robin Lehner hasn’t lived up to his predecessor Marc-Andre Fleury.
Lehner has also dealt with injuries this season, so the Golden Knights should search for a goalie. However, their situation could change if Lehner stays healthy and becomes more consistent. But they only have one more week to evaluate their options. If they decide backup Laurent Brossoit isn’t good enough for the stretch run, then they might trade for Varlamov.
The Edmonton Oilers are also in need of goaltending help. Multiple Islanders insiders reported that the Oilers were interested in Varlamov. However, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman wrote last week that he doesn’t think the Oilers will land him. Varlamov has a 16-team no-trade list, and some insiders believe Edmonton is one of the teams he doesn’t want to play for.
The Colorado Avalanche were also reportedly interested in Varlamov, liking what they saw when they visited UBS Arena on March 7. However, after backup Pavel Francouz signed a two-year extension Saturday, they may no longer be in the market for a goalie.
Varlamov’s extra year on his contract will make him tough to trade. However, Varlamov would be a great addition for teams in need of a starting goalie or a high-quality backup.
Hi, my name is Jack Kobil. I am currently attending Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington DC. I am a huge Islanders fan and I love to share my passion for this team.
