Semyon Varlamov is headed back into the crease for the New York Islanders on Thursday night in Ottawa, and this one carries a little more weight than a routine regular-season start. It will be his second appearance of the season and his second since Nov. 29, 2024, as the Islanders continue managing his workload while keeping Ilya Sorokin fresh for the postseason.
The 38-year-old was in goal for the Islanders’ 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Oct. 5, stopping 19 of 23 shots. It was a rough return, and not just because of the scoreline. Varlamov had some trouble with his angles in that game, much like he did during his game and a half in preseason, while the team in front of him also needed to do more.
Still, the Islanders are expecting Varlamov to play a meaningful role this season. General manager Mathieu Darche and head coach Pete DeBoer are both anticipating 30 starts from the veteran netminder.
“I think our goal here is to make sure Varly gets in the net at least once a week or once every 10 days," DeBoer said on Tuesday morning. "Different parts of the schedule sometimes dictate different things.
If we’re playing five games in 10 days, it might be more. If we’re playing three games in 10 days, it might be less.”
Thursday also brings Varlamov back to Ottawa for the first time since Nov. 7, 2024, when he turned aside 28 shots in a 4-2 Islanders win. That outing came three weeks before he was sidelined by a knee injury.
In Other News...
Kyle Palmieri May Be Giving The Islanders Needed Scoring Hope
Kyle Palmieris return to the scoresheet offered the Islanders a welcome jolt against Vancouver, a reminder that one of their more reliable scoring pieces may be finding his way back at the right time. After spending months working through recovery from the torn ACL in his left knee he suffered in November 2025, Palmieri had been focused on getting himself back to a point where he could help more than just by showing up in the lineup.
The timing matters because the Islanders have been searching for offense, and Palmieris first points of the 2026-27 season came at a useful moment. He said the emphasis has been on recovery and on improving his impact on the team, and his performance against the Canucks at least suggests there may be more to come as he settles back in. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Players Are Learning How To Earn DeBoers Trust Fast
Pete DeBoer has wasted little time establishing how things will work for the Islanders, and the early message has been simple: play well, and the ice time follows. The coach has leaned into a merit-based approach, rewarding performance while still adjusting for injuries and lineup needs, and that has created a clearer sense of what earns trust in the moment. Players such as Kyle Palmieri and Logan Stanley have pointed to the upside of that setup, noting the benefit of knowing where they stand and what DeBoer expects.
For a group still sorting through combinations, that clarity matters. DeBoer has been direct with players about roles and line changes, which gives the Islanders a structure they can build around even as the roster remains in flux. The bigger question is how quickly that trust can be earned, and how long the coach keeps the door open for players who make a case with their play. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Prospect Is Starting To Look Like A Draft Steal
A late-round defenseman can be easy to overlook in a draft class, but Vladimir Dravecky is starting to attract attention in a way that should matter to the Islanders. The 2026 fifth-round pick is developing with the Guelph Storm, where associate coach Ron Davison, a former Islanders defenseman, has been able to see the progress up close. Davison has liked what Dravecky has brought so far, pointing to his growing role, his time on the power play and the offensive flashes that make him more than just a depth project.
Dravecky is also being molded by a staff that includes Davison and Dan Girardi, which gives the Islanders a familiar development path to watch as he keeps moving through junior hockey. There is still work to do, as there always is with a young defenseman, but the early signs are encouraging enough that this pick no longer looks like a simple lottery ticket. For an organization always looking to add impact on the blue line, Dravecky is becoming a prospect worth following closely. [Read more 🡒]