*Photo from the Rink Live*
The goalie tandem on the Island is now secured. The New York Islanders and G Semyon Varlamov have agreed to a 4 year, $11 million contract, according to David Pagnotta of NHL Network. The Islanders have confirmed the move.
After playing on a 4 year, $20 million deal, Varlamov takes a pay cut to stay with the Islanders. The new deal has a $2.75 million AAV and has a full no trade clause for the first two seasons. The final two seasons have a modified no trade clause in the form of a 16 team no trade list.
The contract for Varlamov raised some eyebrows, particularly because he is a 35 year old goalie who is now under contract through his age 39 season. However, the Islanders like the relationship between Varlamov and starting goalie Ilya Sorokin, who are both originally from Russia.
Islanders president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello said "Unless you were here, you really couldn't appreciate the communication and the help they are to each other, both on and off the ice. There's tremendous respect and love for each other and I think you can see that in how they appreciate the performance of the person who's in the game goal that night, how they greet each other. So Varly has been a tremendous mentor for Ilya and Ilya a tremendous teammate to Varly as far as looking up to him."
Last season was Varlamov's 4th with the Islanders and second as a full time backup to Sorokin. He ended the year with a 11-9-2 record to go with a 2.70 GAA and .913 save percentage, adding two shutouts in 22 starts and 23 games. 14 of those starts registered as quality starts.
A former first round pick, Varlamov was a Vezina trophy finalist in 2014, when he also finished 4th in voting for the Hart trophy. He has 18 playoff wins with the Islanders, putting him in second in that category behind only Billy Smith, who has 88 playoff wins.
Varlamov has played for 3 different teams over 15 NHL seasons, debuting in 2008-2009 with a 6 game sample. He has a 272-220-64 record with 316 quality starts and 38 shutouts. He also has a .916 save percentage and 2.65 GAA in 556 starts and 583 games. In the playoffs, he has a 31-27 record with a 2.42 GAA and .919 save percentage in 58 starts and 60 games.
In addition to Varlamov, the Islanders have also re-signed Scott Mayfield and Pierre Engvall to long term extensions.
Comments
Post a Comment