Analyst raises trade cost for Oilers to acquire star New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin
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Some analysts around the NHL believe the Edmonton Oilers should make a pitch for goaltender Ilya Sorokin, believing his time with the Islanders could be coming to an end.
Islanders' fans also have not been pleased with Sorkin's poor start to the season, after going 1-3-0 in the team's first four games.
Islanders' fans turn to social media to show disappointment with netminder
"We are 2 games into the season," one fan posted on X, "but I am fully aboard the trade Sorokin wagon. There's still a perception he's elite when he hasn't been much better than average for 2 seasons. One elite month of goaltending can ruin draft positioning. He's 30. Will be mid-30s when we're ready."
This may be so; but he is also an elite goalie seemingly in need of a change. Sorokin posted a record of 31-22-7 with a 2.34 GAA, .924 SV% and an NHL-best six shutouts in 62 games of the 2022-23 season, winning the Vezina for best goalie, and has been one of the NHL's best since coming to the NHL.
Despite starting the season slow, last year Ilya recorded 30 wins, a 2.71 GAA, a .907 SV%, and four shutouts. So far this season, he has a 0-3-0 record to go along with a 4.18 GAA and an .854 SV%, the main reason for falling out of favour with the fanbase.
Sorkin and Skinner feeling the heat
It's a sentiment with which Oilers' Stuart Skinner can sympathise, as he too is under the spotlight for his less-than-stellar play to start the season. It may be time for both to get a fresh start with a new club.
Sorkin's playoff stats show he can hold-up to the pressure of the post-season. Though he only played in 14 NHL playoff games, Ilya has posted 6 wins, a 2.83 GAA, and a .921 SV%.
At a salary of $8.25M, a trade would require moving some salary the other way. Stuart Skinner's $2.6M, Brett Kulak's $2.75M and Adam Henrique's $3M could make a trade with the Islanders work.
The Oilers would get a goalie that has proven he can win, and who can steal games when needed, while the Islanders add a few essential pieces they can build around long-term.
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