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Islanders Prospect Ilya Sorokin Isn’t Considering A KHL Extension

By Matt O'Leary |
GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 25: Ilya Sorokin #31 of Olympic Athlete from Russia warms up before the Men's Ice Hockey Gold Medal Game against Germany on day sixteen of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Hockey Centre on February 25, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 25: Ilya Sorokin #31 of Olympic Athlete from Russia warms up before the Men's Ice Hockey Gold Medal Game against Germany on day sixteen of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Hockey Centre on February 25, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

It appears that CSKA Moscow wants to extend Ilya Sorokin. The former 2014 New York Islanders draft pick isn’t interested though, at least not yet.

New York Islanders fans collectively held their breath when it came out that CSKA was looking to extend Ilya Sorokin. It was an all too familiar feeling, as Sorokin decided to stay in the KHL for three more years back in 2017.

Things are different now though. Garth Snow is no longer the man in charge. It was rumored that Sorokin had no interest in playing for a Garth Snow Islanders team (can you blame him?) but to say things have changed since then would be the understatement of the century.

Now, the Islanders have a hall of fame General Manager, a coach who has won two Jack Adams Awards and a Stanley Cup, and perhaps the best goalie coaches in the world. Why wouldn’t Sorokin want to play for this team?

Well, according to Igor Eronko, Sorkin is not considering an extension to stay in the KHL. Sorokin won’t consider the offered terms to at least March. At that point, the Isles should be well on their way to another Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance.

Since Ilya Sorokin is 24, he would have to sign a one-year ELC with the Islanders (the max is $925,000) and if he re-signed in the KHL he could come over to the NHL after that deal is done as a UFA.

While $925,000 seems to be well under market value, it would likely be just a one-year thing for Sorokin then the big payday would come as an RFA.

His stats in the KHL seem to justify a big paycheck. This year, the 24-year-old has a .934 save percentage and a 1.57 goals against average in 22 starts. That’s video game like numbers.

Over the last five years in the KHL, Sorokin has averaged a .937 save percentage and a 1.40 goals against average. The guy is the best goalie in the world outside of the NHL.

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The fact that Sorokin isn’t looking to extend is a good sign for the Islanders. There’s a strong possibility of a Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin one-two punch coming to Long Island in the near future.

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