Ilya Sorokin

Ilya Sorokin was born on August 4, 1995, in Mezhdurechensk, Russia. He began his youth hockey career with Vympel Mezhdurechensk before joining Metallurg Novokuznetsk of the KHL in 2012 at the age of 17. Sorokin made his professional debut during the 2012-13 season. After two seasons with Metallurg Novokuznetsk, he was traded to CSKA Moscow in December 2014. With CSKA Moscow, Sorokin developed into one of the KHL’s top goaltenders, earning five consecutive KHL All-Star Game selections from 2015-16 to 2019-20. His tenure with CSKA Moscow included winning the Gagarin Cup in 2019, where he was also named the playoff’s Most Valuable Player after posting a 1.19 GAA and .947 save percentage in 20 games.

The New York Islanders selected Sorokin in the third round (78th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft. He signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Islanders on July 13, 2020. Sorokin made his NHL debut on January 16, 2021. In his rookie season (2020-21), he recorded 13 wins, a 2.17 goals-against average, and a .918 save percentage with three shutouts in 22 games. He became the first Islanders goalie to win his first four Stanley Cup Playoff games. Sorokin continued to excel in subsequent NHL seasons. In the 2022-23 season, he was a Vezina Trophy finalist, achieving 31 wins, a 2.34 GAA, a .924 save percentage, and a league-leading six shutouts in 62 games. His performance led to an eight-year, $66 million contract extension with the Islanders, commencing after the 2023-24 season.

Internationally, Sorokin has represented Russia multiple times. He was a member of the Olympic Athletes from Russia team that won the gold medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. He also contributed to Russia’s bronze medal finishes at the IIHF World Championship in 2016, 2017, and 2019, and a silver medal at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. On March 1, 2025, Sorokin was credited with a goal, becoming the 17th goaltender in NHL history to achieve this feat.