Ilya Sorokin: From consensus top-3 goalie to mid

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

For all the rollercoaster rides we've been taken on with goaltenders and their fluctuations, I haven't seen anyone mention Sorokin's season so far at any point this year.

Before the season started everyone knew that for the most part, the majority of goalies are wildly unpredictable from year to year except the elite few. Everyone had the same lists of a handful of goalies that were consistently elite, with Shesterkin and Sorokin at the top of the lists.

Up until very recently Shesterkin had been getting a ton of coverage about his disappointing start to the season until very recently as it appears he's back at the top of the game.

Where does this leave Sorokin? What's happened to his play this year? The Islanders defense and team is almost exactly what it was last year.

He went from 38.7 to -5.1 goals saved above expected (3rd in NHL to 57th, min. 10gp)

His SV% dropped from 0.924 to 0.907.

Is it simply an off-season, has he been overly protected by an Isles system that's now faultered, or has the league figured him out?

Click to read more...

 

[kingsholygrail]

It's the most goalie thing.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

It’s why you don’t spend big on goaltending.

 

[canuckslover10]

Lol goalies have off seasons, just look at Bobrovsky he is a good example of someone who has had his ups and downs, it generally happens to most goalies, regardless of that he will most likely bounce back next season.

 

[542365]

Just goalie stuff. They’re just wildly unpredictable from one season to another. I’d be willing to bet he’ll be great again next year just as I expect Oettinger to be.

 

[ManByng]

Lol goalies have off seasons, just look at Bobrovsky he is a good example of someone who has had his ups and downs, it generally happens to most goalies, regardless of that he will most likely bounce back next season.

Bob, Shesterkin, Vasilevskiy, Halleybuyck, Swayman, Demko, Hill….all better than Sorokin! I always thought he was a little overrated and I never buy into media hype!

 

[Hale The Villain]

What I would give for a goalie who's "down year" has a .907 SV%

 

[boredmale]

Islander team defense this year is much worse as they concentrate a bit more on scoring, so that is one problem. The second is I find him still amazing up close but it seems I seen to many goals from the black oval area(including redirects, but many outright goals as well).

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Want to win the cup? Easy, have a mid-level goalie on a good contract that gets hot at the right time. Anything outside of that is destined to failure.

 

[canuckslover10]

Want to win the cup? Easy, have a mid-level goalie on a good contract that gets hot at the right time. Anything outside of that is destined to failure.

that's also how you end up with teams like New Jersey who can't save a shot for shit.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

that's also how you end up with teams like New Jersey who can't save a shot for shit.

NJ does not have a mid-level goalie.

 

[Forge]

that's also how you end up with teams like New Jersey who can't save a shot for shit.

New Jersey can't do a lot for shit, so the goaltending just fits in with the rest of the team and coaching performance.

But yes, relying on averagish goaltending comes with some volatility for sure. Some pretty wide ranges

 

[Mr Positive]

Is it really a goalie thing? Forwards don't hit their top end production every year, and there are plenty of goalies who fulfill their expectations. I would like some kind of statistical proof that goalies are especially hard to rely on compared to other positions

 

[Team_Spirit]

Goalies are voodoo is the lazy answer.

Compare the shots against charts, maybe they give more dangerous shots this year.

Check if he missed practice with maintenance/injury history

 

[Cleatus]

He's a bum goalie this season, but probably rises above the challenge, and becomes a top goalie when he's traded from Long Island (with retention).

 

[canuckslover10]

NJ does not have a mid-level goalie.

Vanacek was exactly what you say he was that last year if not more, then he drops a horrible season, almost like you can't truly trust a mid level goalie compared to an Elite goalie.

 

[Mr Positive]

Goalies are voodoo is the lazy answer.

Compare the shots against charts, maybe they give more dangerous shots this year.

Check if he missed practice with maintenance/injury history

I'm very much on this kind of thinking.

Goalies also aren't the only kind of player that performs differently based on linemates, team quality, and team systems.

It's been regarded as fact that goalies are voodoo but with no facts to back it up. Meanwhile when forwards go up and down we either don't notice or come up with lists of logical reasons to explain it.

It could just be that what is unique about the position, that there is only one goalie so there is no hiding.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

He plays on a garbage team. Thankfully Pat Roy arrived to put some structures on that roster.

 

[HarrySPlinkett]

It’s why you don’t spend big on goaltending.

Yeah, everyone knows when you have an Ilya Sorokin on your hands, you let him go.

Islanders were bad enough to get their coach fired, and then replaced him with Patrick Roy.

Let’s blame the goalie.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

NYI defense has been horrific this season.

 

[SI90]

He’s faced the most shots in the nhl and has gotten no help. Hes let him some bad ones at times but more often than not he has to be Superman. Hes still an elite goalie and elite talent.

 

[ManByng]

NJ does not have a mid-level goalie.

They had one in Vanacek but traded him away

 

[EdJovanovski]

Shesterkin the stand alone elite goalie in todays game

 

[Crow]

Shesterkin the stand alone elite goalie in todays game

Hellebuyck

 

[MikeyMike01]

He’s still making A+ saves

He’s just also letting in some not-great goals

Facing the most shots in the league for a big part of the season probably didn’t help