Colorado Avalanche: Semyon Varlamov also Ready for Upcoming Goalie Duel

The Colorado Avalanche have an impending goalie duel between Semyon Varlamov and Philipp Grubauer. Like Grubi, Varly is ready.

The Colorado Avalanche have a solid one-two punch at the goalie position. Or, the Avs have a goalie duel on their hands. Considering GM Joe Sakic has stated Colorado has two number-one goalies, I’m going to say it’s a little of each.

Semyon Varlamov has been the Avalanche’s number-one goalie for years now. The last time you could say he was fighting for that position was during the Golden Why Not Us 2013-14 season. That was the year he threw a Vezina Finalist season, so I’m really not upset he’s fighting for the top spot again.

Varlamov, like any professional athlete, is highly competitive. The Avs goalie is also one cool cucumber. To be honest, he hides behind language a little — the Russian native has (seem to) struggle with English at times. However, even with his improved language skills, he remains laconic.

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Well, the Avalanche’s Media Day was on September 13. We hadn’t seen Varlamov since right after the Game 6 loss to the Nashville Predators back in late April. Varlamov, of course, got injured in a Chicago Blackhawks game in late March and was out for the remainder of the season and post-season.

Actually, speaking of injuries, let’s address that elephant in the room right away. Varlamov has historically struggled with injuries, usually to his groin. In the spring of 2017, he had surgery to repair the issues. Indeed, throughout all of the 2017-18 season, his bionic groin appeared to be holding up.

It was a knee injury that set him back in March.

During his Media Day presser, Varlamov was asked if he’d be able to stay healthy this season. He replied that he thought so because he had done some “good work” over the summer. He added:

"“I think I got stronger and I feel better than I have years in the past. I’m healthy.”"

Side note, Varlamov remarked that he had a long summer because of missing the last week of the regular season and the entirety of the playoffs. He added, “I feel like I didn’t play enough games last year.”

He played 51 games, 47 of them starts.

Ok, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. On the day of the 2018 NHL Draft, the Colorado Avalanche traded a second rounder they got from Ottawa for Philipp Grubauer. (They also agreed to take on Brooks Orpik‘s salary.) They promptly signed the 26-year-old Grubauer to a three-year contract.

The 30-year-old Varlamov, of course, is in the final year of his contract.

The media were quick to ask Varlamov about Grubauer, specifically his relationship with the guy gunning for his job, who just so happened to also be from his old team. (That’s not how they put it.) Unsurprisingly, Varlamov was tactful:

"“When I was in Washington, I never had a chance to meet with him because I think I was gone by [the] time he came in a couple years later. I met with him a week ago. Very nice guy. I think he’s a great athlete, a good goalie. So, I have a good relationship so far.”"

The media also asked him about his reaction when he heard the Avs had traded for Grubauer. He replied that it was “normal.” He talked about the changes he’s seen every year and the fact that he’s worked with a lot of different goalies. “I’ve learned good things from all of them,” he remarked. He added:

"“Hopefully this year me and Grubi will help this team to play successfully, to have success.”"

Props to Varlamov for already using the new guy’s nickname.

Follow-up question — how much does Varlamov have to prove this season, what with the competition breathing down his back and this being a contract year?

Varlamov likes to think of every year as a new beginning:

"“I’ve had some ups and down in my hockey career, some big injuries. What am I looking for? I’m looking for a successful year for myself and as a team. Our goals are staying the same.”"

Varlamov was then asked if he saw this season as a big year, what with the competition and impending contract and all. “Or is it not that meta quite yet?”

Ok, Ryan Clark of The Athletic, I know you’re new to the Avs scene, but using a word like “meta” to any hockey player not named Alexander Kerfoot, much less our notably English-shy goalie? Come on.

Anyway, Varlamov read enough between the lines to answer that the goal was the same as always — to be his best self and to help the team win without focusing on those specifics.

I observed in my Grubauer post that he doesn’t quite feel like an Av player yet. Well, after seven years with Colorado, it’s clear Varlamov does. There’s no question that he’s speaking as an insider.

In fact, Varlamov is such an insider that he felt free to throw down a gauntlet:

"“We’re looking forward to winning a Stanley Cup — not just making the playoffs. I think the mentality of this team needs to be changed. We need to talk every year- We’ve started talking every year about how we’re going to win the Stanley Cup, not how we’re going to make the playoffs.”"

I’ve mentioned a bit in this post about Varlamov’s language — his seemingly deliberate usage of it. Well, as a last little parting shot in the scrum, he was asked if coach Jared Bednar had commented on what the split would be like between the two goalies.

Varlamov commented that he didn’t “know anything about that.” He added his own parting shot:

"“This question is not for me. I am not a head coach.”"

And there was a little smile at the end. Shots answered.

As I stated in my Grubauer post, the duel for number-one goalie has already begun in training camp. No doubt the coaching staff is already watching the two tenders carefully.

I’ve also remarked that, not only is it Varlamov’s job to lose, I don’t think he’s going to lose it this season. Rather, I think his parting gift to this team is going to be something akin to the 2013-14 #VarlyVarly.