It seems that Semyon Varlamov has played his last game for the Colorado Avalanche this season.
The team announced on Thursday morning that their starting goalie will undergo season ending surgery to repair a groin injury that has sidelined him on two different occasions this season and limited him to just 24 games.
The decision to shut Varlamov down for the season now creates an opportunity for young goalies Calvin Pickard and Spencer Martin to get some significant playing time down the stretch.
Even when he has been in the lineup this season Varlamov has not played at the level the Avalanche have seen from him in the past, recording an .898 save percentage this season, by far the worst mark of his career.
Varlamov still has two years remaining on a contract that pays him $5.9 million per season.
He started Colorado’s game on Jan. 17 against the Chicago Blackhawks, giving up five goals on 26 shots. He has not played since.
After losing on Wednesday night to the Vancouver Canucks the Avalanche remain at the bottom of the NHL standings with only 28 points in 46 games and have lost seven in a row and 24 of their past 28 games. They have not won a game in regulation since December 11.