Ilya Sorokin makes NY Islanders history with second Vezina nomination

Despite his own doubts, Ilya Sorokin has once again been recognized among the NHL’s elite.

The NHL announced that the New York Islanders netminder is a finalist for the 2026 Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s top goaltender. Sorokin joins Jeremy Swayman and Andrei Vasilevskiy as the three candidates.

The honor comes even as Sorokin himself downplayed his chances after the Islanders missed the playoffs. Team success often weighs heavily in Vezina voting, and New York’s late-season slide left the goaltender believing the award was likely out of reach.

But the numbers told a different story.

Sorokin led the NHL with seven shutouts and finished the season with a 29-24-2 record, a .906 save percentage, and a 2.68 goals-against average across 55 appearances. He ranked among the league’s top goaltenders in multiple categories, including high-danger saves (452) and high-danger save percentage (.864), reinforcing just how often he was asked to carry the load.

In many ways, Sorokin’s season was defined by volume and difficulty. He faced 1,530 shots — among the highest totals in the league — and still produced elite results. His ability to thrive under pressure was evident in his 15-5-0 record in games where he faced more than 30 shots, including a remarkable 13-0-0 start in those situations.

He also made history along the way, recording his 26th career shutout to become the Islanders’ all-time leader in that category. This latest recognition marks another milestone as well — Sorokin is now the first Islanders goaltender to receive multiple Vezina Trophy nominations.

While the Islanders fell short of the postseason, Sorokin’s performance did not go unnoticed by the league’s general managers, who vote on the award.

It’s a reminder of the season he had — even if he’s not ready to say it himself.

Regardless of the final result, Sorokin has once again proven he belongs in the Vezina conversation.

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