A veteran goaltender with 17 seasons and 621 NHL games under his pads is defying expectations by returning to the ice despite two partial knee surgeries and a career that would leave most players retired. The 38-year-old’s resilience challenges assumptions about longevity in professional hockey, raising questions about how modern training and medical advancements are extending athletes’ careers. His decision to continue playing comes after a lengthy career marked by durability, even as injuries typically force many goalies into retirement much earlier. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if his experience can still make an impact at this stage of his career.

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. -- Semyon Varlamov could have understandably put his goalie pads away after 17 NHL seasons, 621 games and two partial knee replacements. That’s right -- each of the 38-year-old’s ...