NHL analyst uses advanced stats to build Vezina case for Islanders' Ilya Soorkin

f the New York Islanders reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Ilya Sorokin’s season will be difficult to ignore in the Vezina Trophy conversation.

NHL analyst Mike Kelly made that clear during a recent appearance on NHL Tonight, pointing to Sorokin’s impact as unmatched across the league. “It’s hard for me to find a guy, if the Islanders make the playoffs, who is more responsible for his team being in the playoffs than Ilya Sorokin,” Kelly said, noting that New York’s defensive inconsistencies have only amplified the goaltender’s importance. “They still don’t defend particularly well, and Sorokin has played out of his mind this year.”

Sorokin’s statistical profile supports that claim. He leads the NHL in several advanced categories, including save percentage from the slot and quality starts — a measure of how consistently a goalie performs relative to shot difficulty and volume. “So his save percentage from the slot is the best in the league. Quality starts… he leads the league,” Kelly said.

Perhaps most telling is Sorokin’s ability to steal games. “Goalie steals… are you the main reason why your team won a game? We can quantify that, and he’s got more of those than anybody else. Fourteen of them. Where would the Islanders be even if they didn’t get half of those wins? Nowhere close,” Kelly said.

While Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy is widely viewed as a leading candidate, Kelly pointed to a key distinction. “The major difference between the Islanders and Tampa Bay is Tampa Bay is a top five defensive team in front of Vasilevskiy. The Islanders are a bottom five… in front of Sorokin,” he said, adding that Sorokin has faced more high-danger chances than any goalie while still posting elite results.

“I take nothing away from Vasilevskiy… but Sorokin has been first, first, first, first, first,” Kelly said after rolling through several categories that should be leading indicators when it comes time to vote.

For an Islanders team fighting for its playoff life, Sorokin’s value has been undeniable — and, increasingly, award-worthy.