Ilya Sorokin Set to Start in Detroit, Reflecting on Rollercoaster Performance and Future Role

Ilya Sorokin is scheduled to start in Detroit on Thursday, per Andrew Gross. After a brilliant 2022-23 season where he posted a 2.34 GAA and .924 save percentage in a career-high 62 games, dragging the Islanders to the playoffs, his 2023-24 campaign was abysmal with a 3.01 GAA and .909 save percentage, leading to him being benched behind Semyon Varlamov. His play suffered from deeper net positioning and poor tracking. Despite this, Sorokin is still considered elite, and his .909 save percentage remains above league average. He signed an eight-year, $8.25 million extension and is expected to be the Islanders' unquestioned starter for the rest of the decade, though Varlamov's remaining contract suggests a potential continued timeshare. The Islanders' blue line will be healthier, and Sorokin's 2024-25 performance is anticipated to fall between his recent extremes.