Semyon Varlamov Has Become the Islanders’ 2nd-Best Goaltender of All-Time – The Hockey Writers – Islanders Goaltending

The New York Islanders have been one of the more successful NHL teams since the Expansion Era, tallying four Stanley Cups in their 52 seasons. The franchise’s Stanley Cups can be attributed to many factors, one being the elite goaltending from Billy Smith, a veteran of over 700 NHL games and a member of the 1993 Hockey Hall of Fame class. While he is the undisputed best goaltender in franchise history due to his lengthy resume and playoff dominance, there is no consensus on number two.

Varlamov’s Consistency on Long Island

Semyon Varlamov was signed by the Islanders following Robin Lehner’s historic 2018-19 season. In one of general manager Lou Lamoriello’s first moves following John Tavares’ departure, he brought in Lehner to stabilize the goaltending tandem. He went 25-13-5 with a 2.13 goals against average (GAA), .930 save percentage (SV%), and 15.8 goals saved above expected (GSAx), according to MoneyPuck. So, when the Islanders let him walk in favor of Varlamov the following offseason, fans were notably upset. However, Varlamov is not disappointed.

Varlamov signed a four-year deal with the Islanders as the team’s starter. In his first season, he went 39-19-14 with a 2.62 GAA, .914 SV%, and 2.2 GSAx. He finished the season with just two shutouts, but he gave up two or fewer goals in 25 appearances and three or fewer goals in 34 appearances. He may not have been the flashiest goaltender, but he gave the Islanders a chance to win every game.

Related: Revisiting Robin Lehner’s Season with the Islanders

Varlamov currently holds a career record of 73-59-18 with the Islanders, along with a 2.55 GAA, a .917 save percentage, and 18.2 goals saved above expected (GSAx). He has recorded 16 career shutouts, including a franchise-record seven shutouts in a single season and three consecutive shutouts, both achieved during the 2020-21 season. While his regular-season reliability is notable, it’s his playoff performances that truly justify the high praise he receives.

Varlamov’s Playoff Dominance

Since the Islanders five consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances in the 1980s, the team’s most successful seasons have been in 2019-20, 1992-93, 2020-21, and 1978-79.

In 1978-79, it was a tandem between Smith and Glenn “Chico” Resch. While Chico has been viewed as the second-best goaltender in franchise history for quite some time, Varlamov has already surpassed him in playoff games and wins. In 1992-93,…