While the New York Islanders are officially going to miss the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the team has seen a star goalie emerge in net. Ilya Sorokin is in the net for his second season in North America, and this season is his first full season in the NHL. In his first full season with the Islanders, Sorokin has lived up to his hype out of the KHL, posting a 25-16-8 record, 2.32 goals against average (GAA), .927 save percentage in 49 games, along with seven shutouts. With these numbers and potential increased play down the stretch, the Islanders could potentially have their future starter on their hands. In fact, if his strong play continues, Ilya Sorokin could yield a Vezina Trophy now or in the near future.

Even if he’s only in his second season, he is on par with some of the top goalies in hockey and has made several spectacular saves and performances. With these ideas in mind, how does Sorokin stack up among other Vezina Trophy hopefuls?

Igor Shesterkin

The current favorite to win the Vezina Trophy is one of his friends-turned state rival. Igor Shesterkin has quickly developed into another strong goalie in a division stacked with quality goalies. After getting his feet wet in the two shortened seasons, his first 82 game slate has show tremendous results. In 51 games this season, the 26 year old has posted a 36-11-4 record, 2.01 GAA, and .936 save percentage, all of which are superior to Sorokin. Also, unlike Sorokin, Shesterkin has done it all as a sure number one goalie, while Sorokin played in rotation with Semyon Varlamov for most of the year, making his stats even more impressive.

However, despite the difference in circumstances, the two goalies are among of the best in the league. Shesterkin and Sorokin are both ranked first and second respectively in save percentage, meaning both have cases to earn the vote for the award. Shesterkin has a considerable edge in GAA, as he sits first in the stat while Sorokin sits fourth, and he also has the benefit of wins considering the Rangers’ playoff aspirations. While the Shesterkin-Sorokin debate is a topic for another time, it can be said that both goalies are among the best in hockey right now and deserve serious consideration. However, considering the Rangers are playoff bound, Shesterkin may be given the edge here for now.

Frederik Andersen

Next up is a goalie that no one had pegged for Vezina Trophy consideration at the beginning of this year. Frederik Andersen was one of the two replacements for Alex Nedeljkovic in Carolina, and many were skeptical on the decision for the Hurricanes to replace their young goalie for Andersen after a down year. However, Andersen has proved all the doubters wrong, posting a career year in net. In 52 games, he’s posted a 35-14-4 record, 2.17 GAA, and .922 save percentage. Even after his backup Antti Raanta went down with injury, he assumed the starter’s net and carried the load, making a strong case for him to win the award.

Much like Shesterkin, Andersen is on a playoff-bound team, so the record could be backed up by a strong team around him, but the pure goaltending numbers are up there with the league leaders. Andersen sits two spots ahead of Sorokin with his GAA, but Sorokin has the slight edge in save percentage.  The two are separated by four spots among qualifiers, but there is one other notable name in between them. As a result, this debate is closer than the Shesterkin debate, as the two each hold the edge in one specific category. However, given the Hurricanes are playoff bound and the surprise nature of Andersen this season, that could be enough to get him votes over Ilya Sorokin for the Vezina Trophy.

Jacob Markstrom

The final name on this list is another bounce back name following a rough 2020-21 season. After signing a huge contract with Calgary, Jacob Markstrom struggled in net for the Flames as they missed the playoffs. However, as the Flames rebounded, Markstrom did with them as well as the number one goalie in net. With 61 games under his belt this season, he’s posted a 36-15-8 record, 2.21 GAA, and .923 save percentage. Markstrom has held the net for the entire season, and his performance shows that he’s not willing to give it up as the Flames eye a Pacific Division crown.

Compared to Sorokin, Markstrom has noticeably more games played, as opposed to Sorokin’s 49. While Markstrom has been the number one for most of the year, his ability to carry the Flames in net is impressive, and it’s also a trait Sorokin hasn’t show for a full season yet. However, the numbers game has the two in the same ballpark in terms of quality of play. Markstrom has the lower GAA by a sizable margin, but the save percentages are fairly similar. Even if the larger sample gives Markstrom a slight edge, the two goaltenders each deserve consideration for the Vezina Trophy.

While these three goalies are the headliners for the race, it is entirely possible we see other names join the fray. Andrei Vasilevskiy is always in the running for the award as well, and a strong Lightning performance could land him some consideration. Connor Hellebuyck, even in an off year for him, also is one of the best goalies in hockey, so his efforts for the Jets could land him a few votes. Also, a few newcomers could join the scene as well, as Juuse Saros and Jeremy Swayman are emerging as bright, young goaltenders this season.

However, regardless of the pool of talent in the running, Ilya Sorokin very much deserves consideration for the Vezina Trophy. Despite a mid-tier record, most of the issues were on the team around him rather than on himself. In fact, he even kept the Islanders in most of his games with several spectacular performances. While the numbers may not flash like some of the big favorites in Shesterkin, Andersen, or Markstrom, his efforts in net are close enough to the point where he could become a contender to be the league’s top goalie in 2022.

Matthew Page

I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.