Islanders 2026-27 Questions: Can Ilya Sorokin do it (and sustain it) again?

The New York Islanders, despite not making the playoffs in the 2025-26 season, were largely salvaged by goaltender Ilya Sorokin. Calder winner Matthew Schaefer also contributed significantly during the Isles' playoff window. Sorokin's performance began to decline as the season progressed, leading to speculation about his ability to maintain his form again.

While he did achieve a career-high seven shutouts last season, his game time was limited to around 55-60 games. The 2025-26 season was a rebound year for Sorokin, but it fell short of his statistical peaks from the 2021-23 seasons. This season was bolstered by the strong performance of backup David Rittich and the arrival of Vitek Vanecek, who has had a stellar stretch with sub-.900 save percentages for five consecutive seasons.

Sorokin, now 31, is supported by another pair of goaltenders, Semyon Varlamov and Vanecek, who have both recovered from significant knee surgeries. With a potential improvement in the Islanders' overall defense under new head coach Peter DeBoer, Sorokin may face a more manageable workload. Nevertheless, Sorokin is expected to be crucial in the Islanders' pursuit of another Vezina-caliber season, given the same roster returning.