Islanders should make Sorokin top offseason priority

The New York Islanders must make Ilya Sorokin their top offseason priority.

That’s not hyperbole. It’s a reality.

This past season, the Isles’ netminder proved to be the team’s most valuable player. He kept the club afloat for much of the season, especially when the scoring just wasn’t there. The Vezina Trophy nominee stole a fair number of games.

If it hadn’t been for those games, the Islanders would have sunk even further in the standings.

The downside to relying solely on Sorokin to carry the load became evident at the end of the season. Sorokin ran out of gas, and the Islanders faded. They went from a playoff spot to the NHL Draft Lottery in a span of about three weeks.

That’s why the Isles need to prioritize keeping Sorokin at his peak next season. Here’s how:

Islanders must clean up their defensive game

The first thing the Islanders must do is clean up their defensive game. The first major step towards that aim was bringing in Peter DeBoer. Under DeBoer’s tutelage, the Isles’ overall defensive system should improve.

Additionally, the return of Alexander Romanov should also positively impact the team. Losing Romanov for practically the entire season made things more challenging on Sorokin than they had to be.

GM Mathieu Darche may also look at bringing in some reinforcements via free agency. Although, it would be worth looking into prospects who could join the big club next season. Potentially finding reinforcements from within could be the best path forward.

The club must find a back they can trust

David Rittich played reasonably well this past season. He appeared in 30 games, winning 14, and posting a 2.76 GAA and an .894 SV%. The numbers weren’t overly impressive, but weren’t bad, either.

If Rittich’s a guy the Islanders trust, they should bring him back. However, there’s an argument to be made for bringing in a sexier backup goalie. Perhaps someone like Daniil Tarasov, who had a solid year in Florida, could be an option.

It’s especially important to address the backup goalie position as there is no guarantee Semyon Varlamov will play again. Despite Varlamov’s best efforts to get into playing shape, he may not be a solution for the Isles.

Cut down on Sorokin’s workload

When we talk about cutting down on Sorokin’s workload, we’re not talking about playing him less. We’re talking about getting Sorokin to make fewer saves.

The Islanders surrendered 2,271 shots during the regular season, ranking them 19th in the league. Sorokin was fantastic and earned a Vezina Trophy nomination.

In contrast, the best defensive team during the regular season, the Colorado Avalanche, were 28th, allowing 2,143 total shots. The team that allowed the fewest shots all year was the Carolina Hurricanes, totaling 1,962.

Cutting down on the number of shots, coupled with Sorokin’s .906 SV%, that situation alone could translate into 10 to 20 fewer goals. That many fewer goals could easily represent two or three extra wins. Those extra wins could turn into a playoff spot.

All told, the bulk of the offseason preparation has to focus on making Sorokin’s life as easy as possible. He’ll take care of the rest. And that could mean a significant turnaround from what we saw down the stretch this season.

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