So which Semyon Varlamov will the Avalanche have in net this season?
The Varlamov who was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2014 and helped the Avalanche stage a stunning one-season turnaround from second-worst in the NHL to third-best?
Or the Varlamov who had his streaks of larceny last season, but was glaringly inconsistent? He was in the second season of a five-year, $29.5 million contract extension that locks him up through 2018-19, so Colorado’s commitment was considerable.
The 28-year-old Russian will get the start Saturday night as the Avalanche opens the season against the Dallas Stars at the Pepsi Center, and first-year Avs coach Jared Bednar has made it clear he is counting on Varlamov to return to elite form and get the majority of the work in the Colorado net this season, ahead of popular backup Calvin Pickard.