The New York Islanders are in a complicated situation regarding one of their stars, elite goaltender Ilya Sorokin. In response to rumors of a possible departure and growing interest from other franchises like Edmonton Oilers, the front office has reportedly given a clear answer.
The Islanders have already shown activity this offseason by trading defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens. However, the moves for the New York franchise might not stop there, as the team is reportedly considering another trade that could shake things up, according to information shared by NHL insider Frank Seravalli on Kevin Kraus Show a few days ago.
In recent days, speculation about a possible trade involving Sorokin has increased, especially following reports that emerged during the NHL Draft. When it seemed there might be a real chance the Islanders would include him in a deal, the denials have now grown stronger.
What will the Islanders do with Sorokin?
NHL insider Stefan Rosner from The Hockey News cited Seravalli’s recent appearance on The Kevin Kraus Show and stated that general manager Mathieu Darche is not in a position to trade his franchise goaltender, aiming to keep the Isles competitive next season.
Ilya Sorokin #30 of the New York Islanders looks on during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 30, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“I doubt they’ll do it,” Rosner reported, referring to the Islanders’ front office regarding a possible Sorokin trade. This effectively rules out potential interest from Oilers or other teams in need of a starting goalie. The 29-year-old netminder is currently in the second season of an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $8.25 million.
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A difficult move to pull off
It’s not only up to the Islanders to decide what to do with Sorokin. The veteran goaltender cannot be moved without his permission, as his contract with the Islanders includes a no-movement clause that runs through the end of the 2027-28 season. At the same time, New York’s backup goalie, Semyon Varlamov, is recovering from a long-term injury and would not be able to step in if Sorokin were traded.
