Where Ilya Sorokin, Matthew Schaefer and other NY Islanders rank in EA Sports NHL27

The New York Islanders may still have plenty to prove on the ice, but EA Sports is giving them some serious respect heading into NHL 27.

Seven Islanders cracked the game’s top 275 players, led by Ilya Sorokin, who comes in at No. 22 overall with a 93 rating. That is easily the highest mark on the roster and another reminder that, even after some uneven stretches in recent seasons, Sorokin is still viewed as one of hockey’s elite goaltenders.

The bigger eye-opener is Matthew Schaefer.

Schaefer is ranked No. 35 in the entire game with a 91 overall rating, already placing him ahead of several established Islanders stars. His individual attributes are even more impressive: 94 acceleration, 93 speed, 94 deking, 92 passing and 93 wrist-shot power. EA clearly believes Schaefer has already entered superstar territory.

Behind him are Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal, who are ranked 85th and 86th, respectively, with matching 88 overall ratings. Horvat gets strong marks across the board, including 91 speed and 92 wrist-shot power, while Barzal’s 93 deking and 91 passing fit exactly with the type of player Islanders fans have watched for years.

The defensive core also gets plenty of credit. Ryan Pulock checks in at No. 101 with an 88 rating, while Adam Pelech is No. 128 at 87 overall. Pulock’s biggest strength is his 93 slap-shot rating, while Pelech’s numbers reflect his steadier, defense-first game.

Brayden Schenn rounds out the Islanders represented on the list at No. 275 with an 84 overall rating. The rankings paint an interesting picture of the Islanders: elite goaltending, a potential superstar defenseman, several established veterans and more high-end talent than their recent team results might suggest.

Now the challenge is making the real-life standings look as good as the video game ratings.

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