New York Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov has not played an NHL game since November 2024 after two knee surgeries have cost him nearly two full years. Varlamov recently got a positive injury update and is now preparing to return to the NHL ice.

Varlamov is set to face the New York Rangers on Tuesday, and the netminder is talking about returning, per NHL.com.

“I'm excited to play tonight,” Varlamov said. “I'm looking forward to going on the ice and playing in this game. I'm very excited. It's about that time of the year.”

Varlamov played in ten games during the 2024-25 season before his season ended due to knee issues. In those ten games, he was 3-4-3 with a 2.89 goals against average and an .889 save percentage. He played in two games for the Bridgeport Islanders of the AHL at the end of the 2025-26 season. He had a .939 save percentage and a 1.50 goals against average in those two games.

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Peter DeBoer, who is in his first full season as the Islanders' head coach, is excited for the return of the 38-year-old netminder.

“It's been quite a journey for him,” DeBoer said. “He got in those American League games at the end of last year, so it's not like it's his first game action, but first game action at the NHL level after a long rehab. I'm really excited for him.”

Varlamov is expected to split time with Ilya Sorokin in the game on Tuesday night. Varlamov and Sorokin are then both expected to get a full game of play at the end of the preseason.

The Islanders open the regular season on September 30 on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs.