After the Avalanche had their final home morning skate Thursday to prepare for the last game they'll play at the Pepsi Center until next season, goalie
Semyon Varlamov gave his first interview since undergoing hip surgery in January.
Turns out, he had two surgeries -- the first on one hip Jan. 26 and the second on his other hip two weeks later. Both took place in Vail, Colo.
Oh, rookie
Mikko Rantanen won't play against Minnesota, the second consecutive game he'll miss because of a lower-body injury. Coach
Jared Bednar said it's possible that Rantanen will play this weekend in Dallas on Saturday and/or against St. Louis on Sunday in the season finale.
Here are the
GAME NOTES.
Varlamov said he expects to be 100 percent healthy when training camp starts in September.
"It’s been two months after the first surgery and six weeks after the second one, so I feel good,” he said in the locker room.
“I’m really positive about these surgeries, how the doctors take care of me, how everything’s done. Right now it’s just a long rehab, rehab is going very well. I’m sure the problem is behind and then I’m looking forward to get a fresh start in September. I’m going to be ready, for sure, 100 percent.”
Varlamov, who was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2013-14, is optimistic that the operations will take care of the chronic groin issues that have either caused him to miss games in recent seasons or have prevented him from playing at a high level on a consistent basis.
"It's really frustrating season," he said. "I'm sure for all of us, with our team and especially for me. Didn't want to finish the season in the middle of that. It's been a long year, but I try to stay positive every day. Next year, it's going to be better than this one. Right now, it's about recovery. I'm going to be ready to go in September."
Varlamov posted a 6-17-0 record this season with a 3.38 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage. The Avalanche have by far the worst record in the NHL at 22-54-3 and will miss the playoffs for the third season in a row.
"For sure we're going to get back," he said. "This year has been really tough for us. We're the worst team in the NHL, we all know that. We know what we have this year. We're going to do lots of work in the summer time for sure. Everybody will get better next year. We just want to come back where we were at three years ago, we want to be in the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup one day."
Varlamov said he plans to be on the ice by the end of April.
"I don’t know when I’ll skate with full gear, but probably at the end of May or the end of June,” he said.
Varlamov addressed speculation that the Avalanche won't protect him in the expansion draft to stock the Vegas Golden Knights, who begin play next season. He's coming off major surgery, after all, and has two years left on a contract with an annual $5.9 million salary cap hit.
“There’s lots of rumors going on right now in the NHL about trade this guy, trade that guy, trade everybody,” Varlamov, 28, said. "Nobody’s happy about this season. Of course, I’ve heard the rumors too, but it’s just the rumors.
"I want to play for this team, I want to play for this organization, and I’m really happy about what we’ve done in the past — not in this year, but in past years. So I’m just looking forward to make a fresh start in September.”
Projected lineup for Thursday:
FORWARDS
Sven Andrighetto -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Rene Bourque
Matt Nieto -- J.T. Compher -- Matt Duchene
Gabriel Landeskog -- Tyson Jost -- Rocco Grimaldi
Mikhail Grigorenko -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau
DEFENSE
Mark Barberio -- Erik Johnson
Francois Beauchemin -- Tyson Barrie
Anton Lindholm -- Duncan Siemens
GOALIES
Calvin Pickard
Jeremy Smith
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • 
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