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Islanders: CSKA Moscow make pitch to keep Ilya Sorokin long-term

By Michel Anderson

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - MAY 22: Ilya Sorokin #31 of Russia comes out to the ice prior the game against USA at Ice Palace on May 22, 2016 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Anna Sergeeva/Getty Images)
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - MAY 22: Ilya Sorokin #31 of Russia comes out to the ice prior the game against USA at Ice Palace on May 22, 2016 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Anna Sergeeva/Getty Images) /
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It’s hot off the presses, there’s an update on New York Islanders goalie prospect Ilya Sorokin. It seems that his KHL club wants to keep him around longer.

Ilya Sorokin is easily the best goalie not playing in the NHL. The Russian goalie and the New York Islanders third-round pick from 2014 is currently playing for CSKA Moscow of the KHL and is once again putting up video game-like numbers.

Through 22 games this season, Sorokin has averaged 1.57 goals against and a 0.934 SV%. And holds a 13-7-2 record with four shutouts. Since joining CSKA Moscow in 2014, Sorokin has never held a goals-against average higher than 1.61 or a save percentage lower than 0.929.

He’s been incredible for CSKA Moscow. It shouldn’t be surprising that they would like to keep him around. On Wednesday,

Aivis Kalnins reported

that CSKA Moscow gave him a long-term contract extension.

Nothing Left in Russia

The KHL can certainly offer Sorokin more money in the first year of his deal than he could receive in the NHL. Sorokin would be subject to a single year ELC if he were to comes over. He isn’t subjected to that in the KHL.

But with that being said, the NHL has the possibility of a much bigger payout in just two years. Sorokin will turn 25 next August. We saw Carey Price and Sergei Bobrovsky get $84 and $70 million payouts at the age of 30, respectively.

If Sorokin is the goalie he seems to be, a big payday isn’t far off.

We know that money is a factor for Sorokin. But with that being said, we’ve also been recently informed that Sorokin has his eye on the NHL.

CSKA Moscow will try to sway Sorokin with big money. But the NHL has the promise of so much more money for a goalie of his caliber.

Also, what else does Sorokin have to prove in the KHL? He’s already won the KHL’s Gagarin Cup and he’s been named playoff MVP. What else is there to win? The NHL is clearly the next step for Sorokin.

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CSKA Moscow can try to keep him in Russia, but It’s unlikely that Sorokin stays in the KHL past his current contract.

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