Ilya Igorevich Sorokin (Russian: Илья Игоревич Сорокин; born 4 August 1995) is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). Sorokin was selected by the Islanders in the third round (78th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Ilya Sorokin
Sorokin with the New York Islanders in 2021
Born (1995-08-04) 4 August 1995 (age 28)
Mezhdurechensk, Russia
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
PositionGoaltender
CatchesLeft
NHL team
Former teams
New York Islanders
Metallurg Novokuznetsk
CSKA Moscow
National team Russia
NHL draft78th overall, 2014
New York Islanders
Playing career2012–present

Playing career

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KHL (2012–2020)

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Sorokin played as a youth with local club Vympel Mezhdurechensk, before joining KHL club Metallurg Novokuznetsk as a 17-year old in 2012.[1] He made his professional and KHL debut with Novokuznetsk during the following 2012–13 season, appearing in relief during a 8–6 defeat to Barys Astana on 7 January 2013.[2] Following two promising seasons, Sorokin was selected by the New York Islanders, 78th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

During his third year within Metallurg Novokuznetsk in the 2014–15 season, Sorokin appeared in 22 games before he was traded to perennial powerhouse club, CSKA Moscow, in exchange for financial compensation on 24 December 2014.[3]

Sorokin continued his KHL career with CSKA Moscow by signing a three-year contract extension on 10 June 2017.[4] In 2019, Sorokin won the Gagarin Cup with CSKA Moscow, also being named most valuable player of the 2019 Gagarin Cup playoffs.

New York Islanders (2020–present)

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On 13 July 2020, Sorokin was signed to a one-year, entry-level contract with draft club the New York Islanders for the remainder of the 2019–20 season. However, unsigned prospects from other leagues, such as Sorokin in the KHL, were ruled ineligible to feature in the Return to Play phase following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The contract completed Sorokin's entry-level status to become a restricted free agent,[5] and Sorokin was signed by the Islanders to a one-year, $2 million contract extension for the 2020–21 season the day after his entry-level contract was essentially nullified.[6]

Sorokin made his NHL and Islanders debut on 16 January 2021, against the New York Rangers. Sorokin was originally slated to be the backup for the game when the intended starter, Semyon Varlamov, was injured during warmups. The Islanders lost the game 5–0, while Sorokin allowed five goals on 31 shots.[7] Sorokin's first NHL win, and first NHL shutout, came on 16 February, in the Islanders' 3–0 win over the Buffalo Sabres. He made 20 saves in the win.[8] Sorokin made his Stanley Cup playoffs debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins in game 1, winning 4–3 in overtime. while Varlamov recovered from injury. Varlamov took the starting role back in games 2 and 3 but struggled while playing through his injuries, losing both games. Sorokin took back the starting job in game 4 and won games 4–6, helping the Islanders win the series. Sorokin lost game 1 against the Boston Bruins in the second round, and Varlamov became the starting goaltender for the remainder of the playoffs.

On 1 September 2021, Sorokin was re-signed to a three-year, $12 million contract by the Islanders.[9][10]

Sorokin's first NHL point came on 9 March 2023, when he received an assist after poke-checking a puck which led to a breakaway for Brock Nelson and the game winning goal in overtime against the Penguins.[11] In the course of the 2022–23 season, Sorokin recorded a 31–22–7 with a .924 save percentage and a league-leading six shutouts. In recognition of his achievements, he was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league's best goaltender.[12] Sorokin was widely credited as the main reason the Islanders qualified for the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.[13][14] They were ultimately ousted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round. [15]

On 1 July 2023, Sorokin signed an eight-year, $66 million contract extension with the Islanders.[16][17]

International play

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Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing
 Olympic Athletes from Russia
Olympic Games
2018 Pyeongchang
Representing  Russia
World Championships
2016 Russia
2017 Germany/France
2019 Slovakia
IIHF World U20 Championship
2015 Canada

Sorokin was a member of the Olympic Athletes from Russia team at the 2018 Winter Olympics that won the gold medal.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLOTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2012–13Kuznetskie MedvediMHL2711831,4236112.57.914302159903.40.898
2012–13Metallurg NovokuznetskKHL5110151702.77.919
2013–14Kuznetskie MedvediMHL42112451102.69.917202104704.04.800
2013–14Metallurg NovokuznetskKHL2751201,3466502.90.911
2014–15Metallurg NovokuznetskKHL2241119785313.25.906
2014–15Kuznetskie MedvediMHL101060404.00.871
2014–15Krasnaya ArmiyaMHL3111184411.31.9497253631312.15.928
2014–15CSKA MoscowKHL6320275601.31.937
2015–16Zvezda ChekhovVHL101060202.01.917
2015–16CSKA MoscowKHL2817741,63929101.06.953201551,2702831.32.945
2016–17CSKA MoscowKHL3925762,2766151.61.9297524431512.03.916
2017–18CSKA MoscowKHL3725842,1835881.59.931181061,0622751.52.930
2018–19CSKA MoscowKHL4028642,32845111.16.940201641,2132451.19.947
2019–20CSKA MoscowKHL40261032,3655991.50.935440246320.73.966
2020–21New York IslandersNHL2213631,2724632.17.9187413871802.79.922
2021–22New York IslandersNHL52261883,07312372.40.925
2022–23New York IslandersNHL62312273,58814062.34.9246243701602.60.929
2023–24New York IslandersNHL562519123,32616723.01.90810127306.61.786
KHL totals244134642213,541383441.70.9306950174,23697161.37.940
NHL totals19295653011,257476182.54.91914667843702.83.921

International

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YearTeamEventResultGPWLOTMINGASOGAASV%
2015RussiaWJC 3110180802.66.886
2016RussiaWC 310076010.001.000
2017RussiaWC 210080010.001.000
2018OAROG 100020103.00.857
2018RussiaWC6th
2019RussiaWC
Junior totals3110180802.66.886
Senior totals6200176120.34.985

Awards and honors

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AwardYearRef
KHL
All-Star Game2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Goaltender of the Year2016
First All-Star Team2016
Gagarin Cup champion2019[18]
Playoffs MVP2019[19]
NHL
NHL All-Star Game2023
NHL Second All-Star Team2023

References

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  1. ^ "Kontinental Hockey League – Official Website – KHL.RU – official site – Players". en.khl.ru. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Game Summary: Barys 8 – Novokuznetsk 6" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Goaltender Sorokin moves from Novokuznetsk to CSKA" (in Russian). allhockey.ru. 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Report: Sorokin extends deal to remain in KHL". SNY. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  5. ^ "G Sorokin signs with Islanders". The Sports Network. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Sorokin agrees to terms on one-year contract extension". New York Islanders. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Buchnevich, Panarin lead Rangers to 5–0 win over Islanders". AP News. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  8. ^ Wawrow, John (16 February 2021). "Sorokin stops 20 shots for 1st NHL win; Isles blank Sabres". AP News. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Islanders Announce Signings". NHL.com. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Islanders sign goalie Ilya Sorokin to three-year, $12M extension". Sportsnet. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  11. ^ Kurz, Kevin. "Ilya Sorokin gives the Islanders the advantage they need in the playoff chase". The Athletic. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  12. ^ Satriano, David (11 May 2023). "Hellebuyck, Sorokin, Ullmark named Vezina Trophy finalists". NHL.com. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  13. ^ Luszczyszyn, Dom; Goldman, Shayna (15 April 2023). "2023 NHL playoff preview: Hurricanes vs. Islanders". The Athletic. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  14. ^ Fischler, Stan (13 April 2023). "The Many Reasons Why The Islanders Made The Playoffs". The Hockey News. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  15. ^ Rosner, Stefen (4 May 2023). "Islanders Sorokin Chats About Vezina, Workload, & Final Goal". The Hockey News. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Islanders Sign Sorokin". NHL.com. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  17. ^ Wyshynski, Greg (1 July 2023). "Islanders, Ilya Sorokin agree to eight-year contract extension". ESPN.com. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  18. ^ "CSKA lifts the Gagarin Cup". Kontinental Hockey League. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  19. ^ "KHL hands out 2018–19 awards in Moscow". theihlc.com. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
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