The Islanders are not, and I repeat, are not trading Ilya Sorokin

There are perhaps three untouchable players on the New York Islanders roster. In no particular order, it's Mathew Barzal, Noah Dobson, and Ilya Sorokin. That's it. That's the list. Everyone else is fair game.

That doesn't mean the Islanders are looking to trade anyone not named Barzal/Dobson/Sorokin, but if the right offer comes in they'll make the deal.

But if someone, like say Kyle Dubas and the Toronto Maples Leafs call about Ilya Sorokin, Lou Lamoriello will, respectfully, hang up on them.

New York Islanders are not trading Ilya Sorokin

And look, you're probably saying: "Yeah, of course, they would. Why are you even bringing this up?" On Friday there was a post shared online stating thatthe Isles are rebuilding and should look to move their elite level goalie.

So I'm taking time out out my day to squash that immediately.

Page one of Lou Lamoriello's book on roster construction is: "Find a Goalie". Not just any goalie. Find an elite one. Everywhere he's gone that was his (basically) first move in assembling his team.

Three years after his arrival in New Jersey he drafted Martin Brodeur. He even traded back to get him. When Brodeur's career was coming to an end Lou made a big trade with Vancouver to get Cory Schneider. When Lou started building back up the Leafs in 2016 he made another big trade to land Frederik Andersen from the Anaheim Ducks.

Getting a number one goalie a sure starter is what Lou does when he builds a team. That has been the case since 1990. And with Ilya Sorokin, he's got that elite-level number one guy. And he's got him signed to a $4 million cap hit this year and next.

The New York Islanders are not trading Ilya Sorokin.

Trading him would be the most shortsighted idea since...well...ever. The Islanders are set between the pipes for the first time in arguably decades. And they've got that player locked into a reasonable deal for a few years. There is no reason the Islanders would or should even entertain the notion of trading Sorokin away.