Tsyplakov Chat The New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] and Chicago Blackhawks don't have much of a rivalry. However, Feb. 21, 2020 could have been a date that lived in infamy when a false trade rumor between the two involving Ilya Sorokin spread like wildfire. At the time, Sorokin was New York's prized goaltending prospect, playing strong in the KHL and awaiting his jump to the United States. While many anticipated it being with the Islanders, a report from TSN's Darren Dreger came out that the Islanders were nearing a deal with the Blackhawks with Sorokin as the headline piece. The Islanders fan base had been waiting for their white whale since the stud was drafted in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft, so this "trade" was not a pleasant one to hear, especially given the Islanders' need for a clear-cut No. 1 netminder. The deal was a head-scratcher in the moment, with Sorokin seemingly bound for the NHL after the 2020-21 season. He posted an 184-81-22 record in the KHL, owning a .932 SV% and a 1.62 GAA in 313 career games, with his future seemingly very bright. However, 12 minutes after the reported trade, Blackhawks sources shot down the reports, despite teammates on CSKA Moscow believing there was a deal in place. Uniquely, the false alarm occurred on the day John Tonelli's number 27 was retired, adding another unique blip to a historic day in the franchise's history. Fast-forward to today and Sorokin has made a name for himself in the NHL with the team that drafted him, not the Blackhawks, whom he'll face on Thursday. What would've happened if Sorokin became a Blackhawk? We'll never know.
