RESILIENCE: New York Islanders Semyon Varlamov Fights to RETURN After Two Knee Replacements

New York Islanders fans hold their breath as Semyon Varlamov returns to practice after two knee replacement surgeries. Can the veteran goaltender reclaim his spot next season, or will David Rittich remain the reliable backup heading into the critical final stretch? The fate of Varlamov’s contract hangs in the balance, raising questions about Mathieu Darche’s offseason strategy and the need for a fresh backup solution. Gil Martin dissects Max Shabanov’s lower body injury, shifting line combinations, and what Patrick Roy’s latest tweaks mean for the Islanders playoff hopes. Spotlighting Bo Horvat, Matthew Barzal, and Ondrej Palat’s new roles, the episode previews a pivotal eastern Canadian road trip, with Ottawa as a make-or-break matchup. Will the Islanders’ defensive pairings—especially Scott Mayfield and Carson Soucy—hold up under pressure? Don’t miss this breakdown of injury news, roster moves, and the high-stakes battles ahead for the New York Islanders. All this and more on today's bonus episode of the Locked On Islanders Podcast with Gil Martin. Everydayer ClubJoin the Everydayer Club for ad-free audio, access to our group chat on Discord, and more. Use code DEADLINE ahead of the trade deadline for one month free. Tap here to learn more: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! QuoMake this the year where no opportunity — and no customer — slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go tohttp://Quo.com/lockedonnhl. Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Robinhood You’re no longer just a spectator. Play by play. You decide. Trade Every Play with Robinhood. Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firm. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel FanDuel is giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a College Basketball Parlay Profit Boost. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.