Good Morning, Islanders Country.
Ilya Sorokin has his fair share of critics. At times, I’ve been one of them.
The reason? It’s not so much about poor play but high expectations.
Two seasons ago, Sorokin carried the Islanders to a playoff berth. He finished second in Vezina Trophy voting. He made highlight reel saves nightly. He was considered an elite goaltender. He earned an eight-year extension.
And with that, high expectations became great expectations, and with great expectations comes criticism and disappointment when players fall short.
Sorokin is paid to be a difference-maker when he’s between the pipes. When we think of the Isles’ blueprint for success, they are supposed to be a good team that gets great goaltending. They can’t contend for anything more than a playoff spot without greatness in net. That’s the way they were constructed. It was the plan.
Now, after falling dangerously close to being irrelevant this season, the team is having one of their best months of January in team history, and while you can point to improved play up and down the lineup, Sorokin’s play comes first, letting everything else follow. The 29-year-old is 4-0-0 in his last four starts, with a 1.32 GAA and .955 save percentage. While some say this should silence the haters, it also strengthens the argument that Sorokin underperformed the season's first three months. They needed more out of their franchise goalie.
