Semyon Varlamov helped to set the standard for excellence among Russian NHL netminders and he did so from the moment he arrived in North America. The Washington Capitals spent a first-round pick to get the Russian puckstopper, selecting Varlamov 23rd overall in the 2006 NHL entry draft.

Within two years, he was an NHLer. Varlamov won his NHL debut, backstopping the Capitals to a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 13, 2008 by stopping 31 of 32 shots. At 20 years and 230 days of age, Varlamov became the youngest Russian goalie in NHL history. 

That first season, he’d go on to win four (4-0-1) of five starts. Varlamov posted a .918 save percentage and 2.37 GAA. The following season, his first full NHL campaign, Varlamov led Washington goalies with two shutouts and a 2.55 GAA, which was third-best among NHL rookie netminders. His first career NHL shutout came in Varlamov’s second Stanley Cup playoff game, as he blanked the New York Rangers on April 20, 2009 in Game 3 of the opening-round Eastern Conference series between the two clubs.

The 2010-11 season saw the Russian puckstopper finish fourth among NHL goalies with a 2.23 GAA. His .924 save percentage set a franchise record, shattering the mark of .920 set by Olaf Kolzig in 1997-98.

Traded to the Colorado Avalanche in the 2011 offseason, Varlamov would ultimately benefit from the tutelage of Avs coach and Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy and legendary goalie coach Francois Allaire. During the 2013-14 season, he wound up as runner-up in the Vezina Trophy balloting after winning an NHL-leading 41 games. Varlamov was also fourth in Hart Trophy voting that season.

On July 1, 2019, Varlamov signed with the New York Islanders as an unrestricted free agent. In 2020, Varlamov was the first Islanders goalie to post consecutive playoff shutouts. He surpassed Billy Smith (136:59), setting a club playoff shutout sequence of 138:17.

He continued his mastery of the Rangers while playing for their crosstown rivals. He became the first Islanders goalie ever to post back-to-back shutouts against the Rangers. Varlamov’s 3-0 whitewash of the Broadway Blueshirts on May 1, 2021 moved his shutout streak to a franchise standard of 213:56, surpassing the previous club mark of 178:26 held by Glenn (Chico) Resch. 

Varlamov is one of four Russian netminders to play 600 NHL games. On the international stage, he won two silver medals (2006, 2007) with Russia at the IIHF World Junior Championship and won gold (2012) and silver (2010) at the IIHF World Championship.