One of the best news out of breakup day for the Islanders: Mat Barzal and Semyon Varlamov each expect to be ready for training camp in September.
Neither player — each of whom underwent knee surgery, though for various issues — has begun skating as yet, but each sounded positive notes about their rehab processes ahead of what can be an extended summer.
“I expect to be ready for next season,” said Varlamov, who didn’t play after Black Friday. “Every thing goes well with the rehab after which the physiotherapy. Every thing we do now, the most important focus for me is to complete the rehab hopefully soon and have summer training, after which I prepare for training camp. That’s the most important goal.”
Varlamov said the injury had “been bothering me for a very long time” before he got a procedure done in December, and the hope is it won’t be a difficulty anymore once he returns.
He’s heading in the right direction to complete rehab around the beginning of May and begin skating again in June.
There had been some query over whether the soon-to-be 37-year-old can be ready for next season, though the actual tell can be whether or not the Islanders usher in one other backup goalie over the summer.
As for Barzal, if the Islanders had gotten into the playoffs, there’s at the least a likelihood he can be on the ice for Game 1.
He said that when the team’s playoff push was at its peak, he was working to attempt to get back, but eased up when a berth began looking less likely. Training camp, then, needs to be no issue.
“Really wanting to persevere through this,” Barzal said. “I really like the sport, I really like being around my teammates. That is kinda every thing to me. To not have the option to play as many games as I missed sucked mentally and physically. My drive to get back to the player I used to be coming into camp last 12 months is at an all-time high.”
Alexander Romanov said he broke the cartilage between his ribs early within the season, but it surely fully healed. Regarding his pending restricted free agency, Romanov said he desires to stay on Long Island, “so long as possible.”
Noah Dobson, Bo Horvat and Simon Holmstrom all sounded open to participating in World Championships to various degrees.
Horvat was essentially the most definitive about it, saying if Team Canada asks, he’ll play.
Tony DeAngelo, a pending unrestricted free agent, said playing next season with the Islanders can be his first selection.
Matt Martin didn’t make any announcement about his future, though the past week has include an obvious air of finality around No. 17.
“I’ll just take a while here and see what’s next,” Martin said. “When the time comes, I’ll know what I would like to do and what I would like to pursue and go from there.”
