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Report: Edmonton Oilers Have Shown Interest in Semyon Varlamov

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New York Islanders

On the latest “32 Thoughts” podcast (written version), NHL insider Elliotte Friedman stated that the Edmonton Oilers have expressed interest in many goaltenders around the National Hockey League, including New York Islanders nemtinder Semyon Varlamov. 

Semyon Varlamov has turned the page after no training camp and a seven-game skid to start off his season. Over the last five games, Varlamov has allowed 1.80 goals per game and a .940 SV%.

His 7.40 GSAA over that span (Dec.16-Jan. 21) ranked third highest in the NHL. 

Amongst the many issues with the Edmonton Oilers, goaltending has been a major problem.

They have allowed the 9-most goals per game in the NHL at 3.37 and have seen Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith combine for a .899 SV%, a GAA of 3.5, with a -4.86 GSAA. 

Their third netminder, Stuart Skinner, has posted a .907 SV% with a GAA of 2.93 and a -.60 GSAA. 

After losing seven straight games, the Oilers have won their last two contests and are just four points out of the second wild-card spot in the west. 

Varlamov has played pivotal roles in the Islanders’ back-to-back runs to the semi-finals, with a .922 SV%, a 2.35 GAA, and 2.05 GSAA.

Although goaltending will not solve all of Edmonton’s issues, as they have allowed the ninth-most shots per game (32.8), it would be a sure help for a team that will be looking to add rather than sell at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline.

Just because the Oilers have shown interest in Varlamov, amongst many others, that does not mean anything will come of it.

Freidman reported that the Edmonton general manager Ken Holland does not want to move his first-round selection, nor his second. As we see at most deadlines, though, desperation sometimes takes over.

But on the New York Islanders side of things, Semyon Varlamov has a moderate no-trade clause in which he can put together a list of 16 teams he does not want to be traded to, and general manager Lou Lamoriello must oblige. 

Varlamov has one year remaining on his contract worth $5 million.

If the Islanders do decide to move Varlamov before the deadline or even at the NHL Trade Deadline, that means they have essentially decided on two things.

Trading Varlamov means that the Islanders have decided that their 2021-22 season is over. 

In order to conquer what will be a grind of a schedule with the Islanders still not having yet played half their season, they will need two capable netminders to even have a chance at a playoff berth for a fourth consecutive season, given their position in the Metropolitan Division standings. 

And looking around the NHL, Varlamov may be the strongest “backup” in the NHL, the automatic starter on a handful of teams, especially the Oilers. 

The trading of their veteran netminder would more than likely be the first of a few as the Islanders would look to get value for their UFA’s and other players to bolster their club for a Stanley Cup run in a normal 2022-23 season.

The second decision is that the Islanders believe Ilya Sorokin, after 1.5 seasons in the NHL, is ready to grab the reigns as the legitimate no. 1 on the island

Sorokin had been given the leash early in the season before Varlamov was ready and did quite well.

However, Varlamov has served as a big brother to Sorokin since he’s come over from the KHL and for just one more season at $5 million, with the statistics Varlamov provides, is not a contract that must be moved. 

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