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Semyon Varlamov had one of his legs in the KHL just days before the July 1 free agent market, figuratively speaking. On the day his Russian agent spoke unfavorably about the Washington Capitals, Varlamov was on his way to North America to start his preseason workouts with a conditioning coach, who, according to Semyon, has a lot of experience coaching NFL, MLB and NHL players.

Varlamov’s return ticket was for July 19, one day before SKA St Petersburg, the KHL club he was set to join, will open their summer training camp. He was set to leave for the KHL.

But sometime between that day and July 1, Varlamov’s agent called him and said the Capitals would trade him to the Colorado Avalanche after July 1. Varlamov was excited about it as he wanted a change, a new start.

He kept quiet and didn’t speak with the media until he was officially presented by the Avalanche as their new acquisition. Soon after, he gave this exclusive interview to Puck Daddy.

Q. Semyon, why didn’t you sign a new contract with the Capitals?*How were the negotiations going?

VARLAMOV: They started after the New Year. I didn’t agree to all the offers from the Capitals, who wanted to sign me to 2-3 years. I wasn’t satisfied with various contract options. In the end this issue dragged until the summer. I was calm about this situation. I thought about hockey. I spoke with my American agent Paul Theofanous. He kept telling me ‘Everything is OK, you won’t be without a contract.’ I only focused on the game.

When did you realize that you wouldn’t be able to come to terms with Washington?

Towards the end of the season I thought ‘I need a change in my career.’*There was no contract that I needed. I just wasn’t satisfied with the offers in their entirety. Three seasons with the Capitals turned out to be not the easiest. From time to time I kept having small injuries. I wanted to start the season with new energy, a fresh start.

Did you ask for a trade?

There were some talks about it. But Washington then weren’t going to trade me. When I realized that I started keeping a thought in my head of going to one of the clubs in the KHL. But ideally, I wanted to stay in the NHL. My dream is to play in this league. To come back to Russia at 23 years of age is too early.

Why did Ted Leonsis say the Capitals “were disappointed in [Varlamov's] manner during the negotiations?”

I don’t think everything that Leonsis wrote in his blog should be discussed. Let it be on his conscience. I will refrain from comments. I will only tell you that I have a great relationship with Ted. I am thankful to Washington for a lot of things. My NHL career started in this club. I was counted on there to be the number one goaltender. I felt the support from the management, fans. But I couldn’t show myself from the best side. The best moment was 2009, when we played two rounds in the Stanley Cup [playoffs] and I played in goal. Then everything was a lot more difficult. But I gain a lot of experience that will certainly help me in the future.

How did this option with KHL’s SKA came up?

Why this team necessarily?*I was considering offers from Lokomotiv, from SKA, there were also other options in the KHL. SKA’s biggest plus was that Jussi Parkkila is the goaltending coach there. I really wanted to work with this specialist, who has been working with me for the last four years and really helped me in the development of my career. I think the day Parkkila come over to North America and work in the NHL is not far away.

Maybe you can bring him over to Denver?

It would be my pleasure to do that. It’s not the easiest thing to do. But agents and I will try to make it happen.

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