Ilya Sorokin

Ilya Sorokin has established himself as a prominent ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League. After making his professional debut during the 2012-13 season with Metallurg Novokuznetsk, Ilya Sorokin quickly ascended as a top goaltender in the KHL. Following his trade to CSKA Moscow in December 2014, he earned five consecutive KHL All-Star Game selections from 2015-16 to 2019-20. Sorokin’s exceptional performance led CSKA Moscow to the Gagarin Cup championship in 2019, where he was named the playoff’s Most Valuable Player after achieving a remarkable 1.19 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage across 20 games.

He set an Islanders franchise record by becoming the first goaltender to win his first four Stanley Cup Playoff games. Sorokin continued to excel in subsequent NHL seasons, most notably during the 2022-23 campaign, where he was named a Vezina Trophy finalist. That season, he achieved 31 wins, a 2.34 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage, and a league-leading six shutouts in 62 games, which also earned him a selection to the NHL All-Star Game and the NHL Second All-Star Team. Recognizing his consistent elite performance and significant impact, Sorokin signed a landmark eight-year, $66 million contract extension with the Islanders, set to commence after the 2023-24 season.

Internationally, Sorokin has proudly represented Russia multiple times, earning significant medals on the global stage. He was a key member of the Olympic Athletes from Russia team that captured the gold medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. His contributions also include bronze medals at the IIHF World Championship in 2016, 2017, and 2019, alongside a silver medal at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. Most recently, on March 1, 2025, Sorokin etched his name in NHL history by being credited with a goal, becoming only the 17th goaltender ever to achieve this rare feat.