NY Islanders Ilya Sorokin projected as Top 5 Fantasy Goalie in 2022-23

The New York Islanders won't be the only team counting on another big season from Ilya Sorokin in 2022-23. Your fantasy team will be too. Entering his third NHL season, the 27-year-old is ranked as the No. 4 overall fantasy goaltender by NHL.com.

Sorokin is projected to win 28 games next season as part of an elite goaltending tandem with Semyon Varlamov, who is ranked 20th on the fantasy list. The Islanders are one of three teams to have a pair of goaltenders in the Fantasy Top 25 Goalies, along with the Florida Panthers (Sergei Bobrovsky -12, Spencer Knight -16) and the Colorado Avalanche (Alexandar Georgiev -18, Pavel Francouz -25).

"He was second in the NHL in save percentage (.925; minimum 10 games) behind Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers (.935) and shutouts (seven) behind Jacob Markstrom of the Calgary Flames (nine) last season despite the New York Islanders missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With a similar defensive system and potentially more goal support under new coach Lane Lambert (replaced Barry Trotz), Sorokin should be considered a top-five fantasy goalie option and remains part of an elite tandem with Semyon Varlamov (potential 2023 unrestricted free agent)."

NHL.com Fantasy Hockey Staff

Perhaps even more impressive than the Top 5 goalie ranking is that in the top 250 player rankings, Sorokin comes in at No. 30, ahead of players such as Alex DeBrincat, Gabriel Landeskog, and Johnny Gaudreau. The next Islander on the list is Noah Dobson (105), followed by Mathew Barzal (113). Varlamov (129), Brock Nelson (186), Oliver Wahlstrom (197), and Anders Lee (212) are the other Islanders to crack the Top 250.

Sorokin, who finished sixth in Vezina Trophy voting last season, established himself as the team's No.1 goaltender a year ahead of schedule after starting the first nine games after Varlamov missed training camp due to injury.

General Manager Lou Lamoriello's decision not to trade Varlamov at the deadline or during the off-season means that Isles are unlikely to count on Sorokin for more than the 52 games played last season, but his SV % and GAA should have him back in the Vezina Trophy conversation at year's end, especially if he can pick up enough wins and the Islanders return to the postseason.