The New York Islanders have re-signed their prized goalie and best prospect Ilya Sorokin to a one-year contract extension worth $2 million. It carries a base salary of $1 million with a signing bonus of $1 million. This new contract is for the 2020-21 NHL season.
$2M. $1M signing bonus and $1M salary https://t.co/xB75PJInFD
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 14, 2020
Ilya Sorokin Re-Signs With Islanders
A day after signing Sorokin to an entry-level that paid him nothing, General manager Lou Lamoriello had to restructure his deal to make sure he did not go through this exercise in the fall. This way Sorokin can come to New York and play once next season begins. Lamoriello was always confident he was going to sign the young goaltender from Russia to a contract. Originally drafted in the third round (78th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, Soroking has spent the last several years honing his craft in the KHL with CSKA Moscow. There was some confusion during the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline on whether or not Sorokin had been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. In the end for the Islanders, Sorokin was not traded.
Sorokin put up great numbers again with a 1.50 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in 40 starts with CSKA Moscow. With the KHL season being cancelled because of the coronavirus, free agents can sign after April 30th. Sorokin has always wanted to play in the NHL with his good buddy Igor Shesterkin playing for the New York Rangers. Those two wanted to have a rivalry to determine who is the King of New York. However, there were several reports, that the KHL was going to make Sorokin a lucrative offer to stay. However, Sorokin turned that down to go to play with the Islanders.
What The Islanders Can Expect From Sorokin
Ben Kerr described Sorokin as part of the Islanders Top Prospects series by saying, “He has good height and extremely athletic, butterfly style goaltender. His ability to go side to side quickly and makes a number of saves that will leave your jaw-dropping. Sorokin never fully gives up on a play and can show very quick recoveries. He has outstanding reflexes, and his quick legs take away the bottom of the net. Shooters can try to go high, but his blocker and glove are very quick too.” The full report can be found here.
Going Forward
Sorokin is a proven winner guiding the Olympics Athletes from Russia to a gold medal at the 2018 Olympics. The Islanders are lucky enough to have their future goalie coming over now. However, the big thing is he will not be able to play. He will only be able to practice with the team during Phase 3 and 4 as part of the NHL’s Return to Play. Knowing the Islanders had to burn a year of his entry-level deal, a new contract was necessary. Now this gives Sorokin comfort heading into next season. It will be interesting next season how the Islanders handle their goaltending situation going forward. Do they make him wait and let him play in the AHL or does he get thrown right into the rotation?
With Semyon Varlamov and Sorokin sharing the same agent, it could mean the end for Thomas Greiss. Only time will tell.
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