It has finally happened!
After a long, six-year wait, Ilya Sorokin is now a member of the New York Islanders.
The Isles made it official this morning that Sorokin had now signed on for the 2020-21 season. So in essence it was two deals in two days for the club; the other from the contract announced yesterday where Sorokin had signed only for the remainder of this season, which his agent Dan Milstein tweeted.
Islander fans can now take a deep breath. In reality, though, Sorokin signing felt like it was going to happen for the past few months.
Isles g.m. Lou Lamoriello remained firm in his stance that Sorokin would join the organization, this going all the way back to the start of the new year. Sorokin made his intentions clear back in April he was ready to sign once his KHL contract finished on April 30th. But the coronavirus pandemic and the league threw a wrench into those plans.
Fast forward a few months later, he and Milstein had waited patiently for the NHL to come to a decision whether the former could sign and join the organization for Phase 3 of the league’s Return to Play Plan. The NHL finally relented its previous decision, which led to Sorokin and the Isles immediately talking a contract. Which finally brought us to yesterday.
So now it’s official. Sorokin is Long Island-bound. And for the Islanders? Their future now has another gear.
You want to know how long the franchise has been searching for their answer in net? Try Billy Smith. That’s almost 30 years already!
But you watch those highlight films of Sorokin, and you’ll fully understand why the organization and the fans were so keen on finally getting him to make the transition.
His resume? It speaks for itself.
Sorokin is a multiple-time champion, has crushed countless records, and has several other accolades. All of that makes him a candidate to come in and have an immediate impact even if it won’t come until next season.
Did we mention he’s only 25? Sorokin hasn’t even reached his prime yet and is already one of the best in the world. Coming in at that age is perfect for a guy who wants to rule the team’s net for the next decade and for an organization who has been building a foundation in recent years.
Speaking of that foundation, Sorokin’s arrival signals another piece added to the core that will be a consistent contender for years to come.
The Isles already have a star in Mathew Barzal, some quality youngsters in the pipeline at both ends of the ice, and a very underrated defense.
Sorokin is different though.
Goaltending, you could argue, is the most important key to a team’s success, and it’s something the Islanders have needed for too long. Sorokin being in the fold gives the Isles a major boost in attaining that success. Him having the opportunity to work with goalie guru Mitch Korn and coach Piero Greco even before he gets to start a game as well? It’s an advantage that could make him even scarier by the time the Isles will really need him.
It’s hard not to get excited about the prospect of Sorokin becoming one of the elite goalies in the league and the Isles becoming the powerhouse they once were in the early ‘80s. But now it’s a real possibility. Their future is finally here. And yes, we’ve used that cliche many times over. I’ve even lost track myself how much I’ve said it the last five years.Â
Now it’s different. Now that anticipated return to glory is ready for its next phase.
Ilya Sorokin has arrived.
Full steam ahead.