Avalanche sign goaltender Semyon Varlamov to 5-year extension through 2018-19 season

DENVER - The Colorado Avalanche have signed goaltender Semyon Varlamov to a five-year extension that goes through the 2018-19 season.

The 25-year-old Varlamov is thriving under first-year coach and Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, posting a 26-9-5 record with a 2.43 goals-against average. He's second in the league in saves (1,199) this season and his 26 wins already match a career high.

Joe Sakic, the team's executive vice-president of hockey operations, says that Varlamov is "entering the prime years of his career and he wants to be part of this franchise moving forward. We are very excited to have come to terms with him."

Varlamov was a first-round pick by Washington before being acquired by Colorado on July 1, 2011.

He will represent Russia at the Sochi Olympics next month.