Ben Shelley: Reviewing the season (so far): Semyon Varlamov

Welcome to the Ben Shelley Buzz!

We all know why Varly was brought here, now that Sorokin will be here as well, its only a matter of time!!!

Welcome to the Ben Shelley Buzz!
- SRam19

Has a bit of a ring to it.

We all know why Varly was brought here, now that Sorokin will be here as well, its only a matter of time!!!
- Hell_Bent

I think the two could be a real solid tandem for a few years.

I think the two could be a real solid tandem for a few years.
- Ben Shelley

Did you watch Varlamov this past season? I for one am hoping Sorokin comes into the league as advertised and limits Varlamov’s role as much as possible. Maybe as a back up he can find more consistency.

Ben, Varly is good goaltender. However, stating that he had a solid first season with the Isles. I have would have to say no. He looked shaky all season. He was a game changer in maybe a few of the games he played. I do not believe he was the force we as fans were hoping for. One of my biggest criticisms of his play is that he sits too far back in his crease.

That being said, I know why he was brought in here. All signs are pointing to that plan finally coming together with Sorokin. But in all honesty I hope this kid takes the opportunity and runs with it. Thus making Varly an expensive backup.

Did you watch Varlamov this past season? I for one am hoping Sorokin comes into the league as advertised and limits Varlamov’s role as much as possible. Maybe as a back up he can find more consistency.
- Cptmjl

To me, this comes down to expectations. If you were hoping for him to come in and act as a complete replacement for Lehner, then obviously you'll be disappointed, as he was never going to meet that mark. If you took a look at how Varlamov performed in recent years and acknowledged that he was a risky signing to begin with, then he certainly had a strong year versus where it could have gone. Also, if you're comparing him to other starters around the league, he was probably still about average.

Ben, Varly is good goaltender. However, stating that he had a solid first season with the Isles. I have would have to say no. He looked shaky all season. He was a game changer in maybe a few of the games he played. I do not believe he was the force we as fans were hoping for. One of my biggest criticisms of his play is that he sits too far back in his crease.

That being said, I know why he was brought in here. All signs are pointing to that plan finally coming together with Sorokin. But in all honesty I hope this kid takes the opportunity and runs with it. Thus making Varly an expensive backup.
- Nfdbulldawg

I tend to disagree on Varlamov. I think there's a lot of recency bias with him, as he ended the season very poorly but was strong through the first half. Varlamov coming into the year, at best, was probably going to be a mid-range, average starter. He provided that for New York.

I tend to disagree on Varlamov. I think there's a lot of recency bias with him, as he ended the season very poorly but was strong through the first half. Varlamov coming into the year, at best, was probably going to be a mid-range, average starter. He provided that for New York.
- Ben Shelley

The team, as a whole, also followed suit along that timeline. Probably a little bit of a chicken-or-the-egg scenario there. The overall play tailed off as the season went on, pretty much immediately following the point streak.

Varly shoulders some of that blame but between injuries and a lot of below average play from the guys in front of him....everyone's got blood on their hands.

To me, this comes down to expectations. If you were hoping for him to come in and act as a complete replacement for Lehner, then obviously you'll be disappointed, as he was never going to meet that mark. If you took a look at how Varlamov performed in recent years and acknowledged that he was a risky signing to begin with, then he certainly had a strong year versus where it could have gone. Also, if you're comparing him to other starters around the league, he was probably still about average.
- Ben Shelley

Thats fair and exactly how I looked at the signing. I guess that’s one way of looking at it he did better than I expected(which want good) but that doesn’t to me make him a strong goaltender. The most important attribute a goaltender can bring is consistency imo. He doesn’t check that box.

The team, as a whole, also followed suit along that timeline. Probably a little bit of a chicken-or-the-egg scenario there. The overall play tailed off as the season went on, pretty much immediately following the point streak.

Varly shoulders some of that blame but between injuries and a lot of below average play from the guys in front of him....everyone's got blood on their hands.
- eichiefs9

The teams play started degrading towards the end of that point streak. It just got worse after and got compounded by injuries on top of it imo. It happened before Pelech’s injury which a lot like to point to(not saying you are) as the reason this all started yet we were under 500 the last ten games leading up to his injury.

Thats fair and exactly how I looked at the signing. I guess that’s one way of looking at it he did better than I expected but that doesn’t to me make him a strong goaltender. The most important attribute a goaltender can bring is consistency imo. He doesn’t check that box.
- Cptmjl

Capt that is it in a nut shell. Varly does not check the consistency box. Consistency is an important attribute . Outside of swagger this team lacked Consistency. With Mid-level forwards you needed the back end to be consistent.

Again, I understand why the move was made. But to me you lost swagger and consistency on the back end.

Capt that is it in a nut shell. Varly does not check the consistency box. Consistency is an important attribute . Outside of swagger this team lacked Consistency. With Mid-level forwards you needed the back end to be consistent.

Again, I understand why the move was made. But to me you lost swagger and consistency on the back end.
- Nfdbulldawg

Yeah it’s kind of well documented I wasn’t a fan of the move to sign Varlamov and even less of a fan of it if it were solely done to get Sorokin over here. If that was what was needed to get him here I don’t want him. That’s just my opinion but I can see other people’s sides on the subject. We’ll never really know but I can’t imagine any other reason to sign a tender who played the last two years the way Varlamov did before coming here to the contract he got. Hopefully Sorokin comes here and kicks ass.

Yeah it’s kind of well documented I wasn’t a fan of the move to sign Varlamov and even less of a fan of it if it were solely done to get Sorokin over here. If that was what was needed to get him here I don’t want him. That’s just my opinion but I can see other people’s sides on the subject. We’ll never really know but I can’t imagine any other reason to sign a tender who played the last two years the way Varlamov did before coming here to the contract he got. Hopefully Sorokin comes here and kicks ass.
- Cptmjl

Assuming of course that my years long boner-inducing obsession with Sorokin turns out to be justified, you have to think that Varlamov could be a pretty attractive option for Seattle in next year's expansion draft.

His deal isn't the best but it'll only have two years remaining on it at that point and he'll still won't really be an "old" guy.

Assuming of course that my years long boner-inducing obsession with Sorokin turns out to be justified, you have to think that Varlamov could be a pretty attractive option for Seattle in next year's expansion draft.

His deal isn't the best but it'll only have two years remaining on it at that point and he'll still won't really be an "old" guy.
- eichiefs9

The issue with that is that Varly has a no trade clause. I think he has to be protected by expansion draft rules.

The issue with that is that Varly has a no trade clause. I think he has to be protected by expansion draft rules.
- Nfdbulldawg

Pretty sure only a no movement clause prevents exposing him to the draft. A no trade clause only prevents him from being traded.

The issue with that is that Varly has a no trade clause. I think he has to be protected by expansion draft rules.
- Nfdbulldawg

Like JS said, only players that have no movement clauses are required to be protected (if they don't waive it)

Assuming of course that my years long boner-inducing obsession with Sorokin turns out to be justified, you have to think that Varlamov could be a pretty attractive option for Seattle in next year's expansion draft.

His deal isn't the best but it'll only have two years remaining on it at that point and he'll still won't really be an "old" guy.
- eichiefs9

Sorokin would have to prove himself pretty quickly for that to be an option. Unless he blows everyone away in camp you'd have to think he'd start the season as the back up or at best 1b. He'll have to take the starting job away from Varlamov.

Sorokin would have to prove himself pretty quickly for that to be an option. Unless he blows everyone away in camp you'd have to think he'd start the season as the back up or at best 1b. He'll have to take the starting job away from Varlamov.
- JimmyP

Well they're certainly not going to expose Sorokin. They have to expose one goaltender that meets some minimum time-served requirements and I have a hard time believing they've waited all this time for Sorokin just to give him away to Seattle.

Unless Sorokin is an absolute abortion, I can't see the Isles exposing him. If they do, they should've traded him already.

Well they're certainly not going to expose Sorokin. They have to expose one goaltender that meets some minimum time-served requirements and I have a hard time believing they've waited all this time for Sorokin just to give him away to Seattle.

Unless Sorokin is an absolute abortion, I can't see the Isles exposing him. If they do, they should've traded him already.
- eichiefs9

I'm not really sure of the rules but won't Sorokin be protected under this clause:

All first- and second-year NHL players, and all unsigned draft choices, will be exempt from selection (and will not be counted toward protection limits.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...ghts-followed/c-302586918