Might as well talk about eh?  All reports indicate that Goalie Semyon Varlamov is trotting off back to Russia to the KHL.  Can???t help but wonder if it is not just the contract matter, but also the unwillingness to compete and possibly lose out to Michal Nuevirth for the starting job in Washington.   Regardless, Varly will soon become a thing of the past in DC hockey.

Varlamov is returning to Russia, but the capitals will retain his NHL right until he becomes an unrestricted free agent.  Dmitry Chesnokov was first to report it and here is his story on Yahoo Sports and why Varlamov chose to return to his homeland.

???Actually, there are problems with medical care in Washington. Doctors in Russia are better. It happened when the Capitals??? doctor says ???Everything is alright, let him play.???  Semyon feels that his knee is still hurting. But he goes out to play, and then he???s injured again. And the injury is not that serious, but he couldn???t play again.???

???It???s clear why it was done. The Capitals were getting ready for the new negotiations. But they didn???t expect that Semyon could pick Russia. Washington management thought that they were in charge of the situation. But it turned out not to be the case.???

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Of course, nothing is certain until Varlamov signs on the dotted line. He can???t do it until Friday. But the frustration mounted for him over the entire last season when there was little communication from the Capitals, according to his camp, regarding the new contract and the prospects.

Whether leaving for the KHL is the right decision is debatable. Varlamov wants to play in the NHL. He wants to play in the best league in the world, but not sit on the bench. Perhaps requesting a trade would have been a better option for him.

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