Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov underwent hip surgery Thursday and will miss the remainder of the season, the team announced.
Hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon performed the procedure at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo. The Avalanche are hopeful this will solve the groin and hip issues that have plagued Varlamov for the past several seasons.
"After further evaluation from our team doctors, it was determined that the best road to recovery was surgery," general manager Joe Sakic told the Denver Post. "Doing this procedure at this time ensures that Semyon will be fully healthy for the start of training camp.…
Varlamov, 28, missed 13 games this season because of the injury and was shut down last week in an attempt to determine a way to find permanent relief. He last played Jan. 17 when he allowed five goals on 26 shots in the Avalanche's 6-4 loss to Chicago.
Varlamov has a 6-17-0 record for the last-place Avalanche (13-31-2) with one shutout, a 3.38 goals-against average and .898 save percentage -- by far the worst numbers of his nine-season NHL career.
Varlamov missed five games last season because of groin injuries and 15 games in 2014-15. He played in a career-high 63 games in 2013-14 when he was a Vezina Trophy finalist with 41 wins, a 2.41 goals-against average and .927 save percentage while leading the Avalanche to first place in the Central Division and a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday that surgery was a possibility.
"It's happened too much," he said of the groin issues. "It's obviously affecting his ability to get into a rhythm and play well for us. Staying healthy, I'm sure, has a large part to do with that."
The Avalanche will use Calvin Pickard and most likely Spencer Martin the rest of the season, which resumes Tuesday in Anaheim. Pickard, 24, is 7-13-1 with one shutout, a 3.01 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 23 games.
Martin, 21, was recalled for the fourth time Jan. 18 from San Antonio of the American Hockey League and is 0-1-1 in two games with a 4.03 goals-against average and .857 save percentage. He was returned to the Rampage on Thursday -- they play Friday -- but is expected to rejoin the Avalanche in time for practice Monday, even though he was named to the AHL All-Star Classic to be played that night.
Jeremy Smith, 27, was recalled Dec. 26 and dressed as Pickard's backup for five games before being sent back Jan. 5.
The Avalanche acquired Varlamov on July 1, 2011 from Washington for first- and second-round picks in the 2012 NHL draft. He has two more seasons let on a five-year, $29.5 million contract with an annual $5.9 million salary cap hit.
Varlamov has a 169-134-35 career record with 21 shutouts, a 2.65 goals-against average and .916 save percentage.