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Colorado Avalanche Are In No-Win Situation With Varlamov As Their Goalie

By Anthony Noga

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 11: Colorado Avalanche Goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) takes a breather after fighting off two penalties during the regular season NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs on December 11, 2016 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 11: Colorado Avalanche Goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) takes a breather after fighting off two penalties during the regular season NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs on December 11, 2016 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 11: Colorado Avalanche Goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) takes a breather after fighting off two penalties during the regular season NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs on December 11, 2016 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Semyon Varlamov’s tenure with the Colorado Avalanche is one of extreme uncertainty

The Colorado Avalanche picked their horse. Semyon Varlamov, fresh off another off-season surgery, will have the net again in 2017-2018 after losing it to Calvin Pickard last year. While there’s no denying that injury contributed to his underwhelming season(s), his ability to stay healthy isn’t the only uncertainty surrounding Varlamov.

Varlamov either wins games or he loses them. While that bit of analysis is obvious enough to make Peter “this game will be at least 1-0” McNabb roll his eyes, it’s meant to illustrate that there is rarely any middle ground in Varlamov’s game.

He’s almost always the best player on the ice. Only sometimes it’s for the wrong team.

And that type of uncertainty in net poses a dilemma for a team, not to mention a franchise, riddled with as many question marks as the Colorado Avalanche. Is he going to steal games and create the illusion the team is better than it is? Or will he cost this young team games they could win?

Either way, having Varlamov as the #1 goalie this season is likely to be a no-win scenario for the Colorado Avalanche. Anyone who’s watched him play would likely agree that his play is mercurial. To see just how up and down it is, I conducted a little research based on his save percentage.

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