Darche Provides Updates on Varlamov, Engvall and Romanov

Varlamov Expected To Be Full Participant in Training Camp

Semyon Varlamov is expected to be a full participant at New York Islanders Training Camp this month, Islanders General Manager and Executive Vice President Mathieu Darche told reporters on Wednesday.

“He’s going to be a full participant in camp,” Darche said. “He's going to play preseason games, and hopefully he's ready to give us a lot of games this year.”

It’s a major milestone for the Islanders netminder, who has not suited up in an NHL game since Nov. 29, 2024 due to knee injuries.

“It’s almost a miracle,” Darche said of Varlamov. “He's really put in the work. He's been back here for at least a month. He's on the ice four to five times a week, no medication, no pain.”

It’s the next step in Varlamov’s comeback. The 38-year-old joined the Islanders for practices in March and played a pair of AHL games on a conditioning stint with the Bridgeport Islanders in April. Varlamov went 2-0-0 in two AHL games stopping 46-of-49 shots.

Darche said Varlamov can help manage the workload Ilya Sorokin, who he said was “overused” last season. Veteran Vitek Vanecek also inked a one-year deal with the Islanders in free agency as added insurance.

Varlamov is 76-63-21 with a 2.57 GAA, a .916 SV% and 16 shutouts in 173 games with the Islanders. Varlamov is 289-232-71 in his career, with a .916 SV% and a 2.65 GAA. He has 41 career shutouts.

Engvall Healthy After Missing 2025-26 Season

After missing the 2025-26 season due to injury, Pierre Engvall “looks like he’s going to be able to play,” according to Darche.

Engvall underwent offseason hip surgery last summer and ankle surgery in the fall. The injuries were not related and the ankle injury was considered a lingering ailment.

Engvall last played an NHL game on Apr. 17, 2025. He recorded 15 points (8G, 7A) through 62 games for the Islanders in the 2024-25 season. Engvall has 52 points (23G, 29A) in 154 with the Islanders over three seasons.

Romanov Ready to Return

Alexander Romanov has been skating on Long Island for the past three weeks and Darche has liked what he’s seen from the defenseman.

“He's 12 pounds lighter. [The way he’s moving on the ice is] as good as I've seen him,” Darche said. “I kind of challenged him at the end of the year, and he put in the work this summer.”

Romanov had been out since suffering a shoulder injury on a Mikko Rantanen hit on Nov. 18. He resumed skating with the Islanders at practice in late March until the end of the season. The 26-year-old was limited to 15 games last season with one assist, 31 hits, 31 blocked shots and four takeaways.