If anyone needs the summer rest, it's New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin.
If anyone needs the summer rest, it's New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin.
EAST MEADOW -- If anyone needs the summer rest, it's New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin.
The 28-year-old had a very tough season, posting a 3.01 GAA and a 908 SV% in 56 games, both career worsts.
"I want to start skating on Monday," Sorokin said. "I'll be back."
His struggles came a year after he was named a Vezina Finalist, posting a 2.34 GAA with a .924 SV% in 62 games. This season earned him an eight-year extension worth $8.25 million.
"It was a tough season for me and I learn all season. Big experience," Sorokin said at Friday's break-up day. "It's a good time for me because when you don't win, you learn, and I have the confidence and motivation to be better."
Whether it was his rebound control, his angles, or his tracking, things were just off.
"I think all goals against were (due to) small details," Sorokin said. "And you should control those details. When you're a little loose, it, like, snowballs."
There's no doubt that Sorokin has to improve these details to get back to his game, but he also needs to have more support in front of him.
Under Lane Lambert, before the coach's firing on Jan. 20, Sorokin faced a league-leading 1,132 shots through 34 games, a tad over 34 shots per game.
Most of that was due to the chaotic defense in front of him, with his lack of sharpness certainly playing a factor.
From being hung out to dry the entirety of last season and the first half of this past season, Sorokin was clearly gassed and failing to play the basic game the Islanders needed from him down the stretch.
Sorokin was asked if he felt fatigued, but he said, "It's my job."
"You can't control this thing, so many shots," Sorokin said. "You just should be ready. So, it's physical and mental. These are things that I will work on this summer. It's physical condition and mental health."
Things changed in the shot count when Patrick Roy walked through the doors.
In 23 games under Roy, the Islanders played much better defense in front of Sorokin, as he went from facing the most shots in the league to the 15th-most in the league at 689, which averaged out to 29.96 shots per game.
But Sorokin's performance didn't improve.
"When you face 15 or 16 shots, you're not in full control of the game," Sorokin said. "When you have a lot of shots, it's better for controlling. But I've addressed it, and I'll try to be at a high level in every game."
His struggles ultimately led to backup Semyon Varlamov getting the bulk of the starts down the stretch, with Sorokin starting three of the final eight games of the regular season and just one of five playoff games against the Carolina Hurricanes.
That start, Game 3, was an absolute disaster. He allowed three goals on 14 shots before being pulled in the second period, his final performance of the season.
Sorokin was thankful to have Varlamov in his corner, as he always is.
"He's a great goalie," Sorokin said. "He shows it in every practice and in every game. He makes a big push before playoffs, a big part, and he's a great guy.
"I'm really happy that I can learn from him and work with him every day."
On the flip side, Varlamov is a big supporter of Sorokin and has all the faith in the world that his friend will bounce back.
“To me he’s in the top five goalies in the league, always,” Varlamov said. “And I’m sure he’ll continue to play great for this organization, for this team, and he just needed to reset mentally, get away from hockey, not to think about hockey. Make sure you have a good summer of training and then come back refreshed mentally and feeling good physically next season.”
Islanders captain Anders Lee is excited about Sorokin's bounce-back.
"I know how much he cares. I know how hard he works and how much he puts on his shoulders," Lee said. And I think an offseason for him to go back and rejuvenate, take a load off, and get back to where he wants to get back to...I still think he had a really solid season. He can't take and shouldn't shoulder all of those things that happened.
"He's got five guys in front of them at all times that can do a better job as well. So Sorokin is one of the best goalies in this league. And he's going to continue to prove that over and over, so I know he's gonna have a great offseason and come in flying."