Vitek Vanecek Competing for Third Goalie Spot as Islanders Assess Semyon Varlamov's Health

Vitek Vanecek is currently vying for a position as the third goaltender for the New York Islanders, with his future largely dependent on the team's decision regarding the necessity of carrying a third goalie. Vanecek signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Islanders this offseason. Coach Pete DeBoer acknowledged the situation following a preseason game against the New Jersey Devils, where Vanecek played the entire match and made 20 saves. DeBoer stated, "It’s been discussed, and it does handcuff you. I think that’s all gonna depend on how Varly’s doing, how he’s feeling and things like that. I don’t think, in talking with Mathieu [Darche], that we want to go there, but it’s on the table if we have to." Semyon Varlamov is expected to participate in two of the final three preseason games and has shown positive signs during training camp. He is recovering from two partial knee replacements and has been dedicated to returning to play. The Islanders are committed to allowing Varlamov the opportunity to back up Ilya Sorokin as long as he remains fit. However, there are concerns regarding the physical demands of an 84-game season on Varlamov's knees, as there are no precedents for his situation. The Islanders have faced challenges in the past due to a lack of a reliable backup when Varlamov was injured, contributing to their failure to make the playoffs in the previous two seasons. Vanecek had an .883 save percentage in 22 games with Utah last season, which is lower than David Rittich’s .894, a statistic that the Islanders were wary of. Despite this, Vanecek has over 200 games of NHL experience, making him a known option for the team. In contrast, Joshua Kotai, a prospect from the AHL Hamilton, has also performed well during camp. Vanecek commented on the situation, saying, "I’m not thinking about it too much. Just doing my best, and then we go see what’s gonna happen." The Islanders face a dilemma regarding roster spots, especially among forwards, as they evaluate whether to keep a third goaltender. The decisions are complicated by the strong performances of players like Victor Eklund, Kashawn Aitcheson, and Cole Eiserman during training camp.