The Islanders are running Ilya Sorokin into the ground.
After a few years where their goalie depth was exposed, the New York Islanders went out and addressed it.
Or so we thought.
On May 7, the Islanders signed Marcus Hogberg, who hasn’t played in the NHL since 2021, to serve as their third-string goaltender.
With Ilya Sorokin coming off back surgery and Semyon Varlamov missing a few weeks in each of the last two seasons, it made sense to have a third, trustworthy option after having Ken Appleby last year and Cory Schneider the year before — non-options.
"We learn by experience, no matter how old we get," Lamoriello said before training camp "Last year, we got caught a little with depth, so we made sure we have depth in our goaltending. As far as who that will be, I think we all know who number one and number two are… and then after that, I’m excited to see the competition, and I’m hoping we have a difficult choice to make, whoever that might be.”
Flash-forward to now, and Varlamov has been nowhere to be found since Dec. 3, landing on long-term injury reserve with a lower-body injury, while Sorokin has played 11 straight games, getting weaker by the start.
He needs a rest even if the schedule is light enough. There’s a back-to-back with the Pittsburgh Penguins coming up on Saturday and Sunday, and if Hogberg isn’t an option -- Hogberg has made two relief appearances stopping all 17 shots that came his way--the Islanders need to find an option on the trade market quickly.
The argument that the Islanders have to win these games hence Sorokin has to start, isn't a fair argument anymore because they keep losing those games.
Who is an option on the trade market?
Look no further than Alex Lyon, a goalie who has been a thorn in their backside this season.
The Detroit Red Wings goaltender swept the Islanders this season in three starts, owning a 1.00 GAA with a .963 SV% in those games.
On the season, he’s 5-5-0, with a 3.09 GAA, a .894 SV%, and a shutout.
He’s on an expiring deal worth $900,000.
Prospect Sebastian Cossa is their future in goal, and Lyon is likely on the move anyway.
Lyon would cost a mid-to-late round pick, and whether the Islanders are going nowhere or somewhere this season, Sorokin needs support and someone who the team can trust to take starts off his hand.