Ilya Sorokin Bio
Ilya Igorevich Sorokin is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. Born on 4 August 1995 in Mezhdurechensk, Russia, Sorokin stands 6 ft 3 in tall and weighs 190 lb, catching left. Selected by the New York Islanders in the third round, 78th overall, of the 2014 NHL entry draft, he has developed into one of the most respected netminders in the league.
Before joining the NHL, Sorokin built a strong resume in the Kontinental Hockey League, winning a Gagarin Cup with CSKA Moscow and earning playoff MVP honors. With the Islanders, he has signed two notable contracts: a three-year, $12 million extension that ran through 2024, followed by an eight-year, $66 million deal that runs through 2031.
Early Life and Background
Ilya Igorevich Sorokin was born on 4 August 1995 in Mezhdurechensk, a coal-mining city in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia. He grew up in a region where ice hockey has long been part of local sporting culture, and he began his competitive journey as a youth player with Vympel Mezhdurechensk, a local club that gave him his earliest organized training between the pipes.
As a tall, athletic teenager, Sorokin drew attention from professional scouts while still playing junior hockey. His size, lateral quickness, and calm temperament set him apart from other young goaltenders in the region, and he advanced quickly through the Russian youth system toward a professional opportunity.
Path to Professional Hockey
Sorokin joined Kontinental Hockey League club Metallurg Novokuznetsk as a 17-year-old in 2012, making his professional and KHL debut in relief during an 8–6 defeat to Barys Astana on 7 January 2013. His early appearances showed flashes of poise well beyond his age, and Metallurg relied on him in a growing role over his first two seasons.
During the 2014–15 season, his third year with Metallurg Novokuznetsk, Sorokin appeared in 22 games before being traded to perennial powerhouse CSKA Moscow on 24 December 2014 in exchange for financial compensation. He signed a three-year contract extension with CSKA on 10 June 2017, cementing his place as the club’s starting goaltender. In 2019, he won the Gagarin Cup with CSKA Moscow and was named the most valuable player of the 2019 Gagarin Cup playoffs.
Ilya Sorokin Career
Early Career in the KHL (2012–2020)
Sorokin’s early KHL career began with Metallurg Novokuznetsk, where he developed into one of the league’s most promising young goaltenders. Across his time with Novokuznetsk and CSKA Moscow, he earned a reputation for technical soundness, post-integration patience, and an ability to handle high-volume workloads in pressure situations.
His move to CSKA Moscow elevated his profile even further. Working within a structured defensive system, Sorokin produced consistently strong save percentages and led CSKA to deep playoff runs. His Gagarin Cup triumph in 2019 and playoff MVP award confirmed his status as one of the elite goaltenders outside the NHL.
New York Islanders Breakthrough (2020–Present)
On 13 July 2020, Sorokin signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the New York Islanders, the team that had originally drafted him. A combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and roster timing kept him from debuting that season, but on 1 September 2021, the Islanders re-signed him to a three-year, $12 million contract extension.
Sorokin made his NHL debut on 16 January 2021 against the New York Rangers after starter Semyon Varlamov was injured during warmups, stopping 26 of 31 shots in a 5–0 loss. His first NHL win and first NHL shutout came on 16 February 2021 in a 3–0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, when he made 20 saves. Later that spring, Sorokin won his first Stanley Cup playoff game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and helped the Islanders eliminate them in the first round.
During the 2022–23 NHL season, Sorokin posted a 31–22–7 record with a .924 save percentage and a league-leading six shutouts. He was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender, and he was widely credited as the main reason the Islanders qualified for the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, where they were eliminated in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Islanders Veteran Era (2023–Present)
On 1 July 2023, Sorokin signed an eight-year, $66 million contract extension that runs through 2031, locking him in as the Islanders’ franchise goaltender for the long term. He has continued to log heavy minutes in a tandem role with Varlamov while gradually assuming the larger share of starts as his veteran partner dealt with injuries.
On 1 March 2025, Sorokin became the 17th goaltender in NHL history to be credited with a goal when Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos accidentally sent the puck into his own net. On 6 April, Sorokin allowed Alexander Ovechkin’s 895th career NHL goal, the record-breaking strike that made Ovechkin the all-time leading goal-scorer in NHL history. On 6 December 2025, he recorded his 25th career shutout, tying Chico Resch for the Islanders’ all-time franchise record, in a 2–0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. On 6 January 2026, he broke that record with his 26th shutout in a 9–0 win over the New Jersey Devils.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sorokin is recognized for his calm, positional style, excellent rebound control, and sharp lateral movement. He plays a technically disciplined game, rarely overcommitting, and he reads plays quickly through heavy traffic. His partnership with goaltending coach and the Islanders’ defensive structure has allowed him to take on a workload comparable to the league’s most-used starters.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Sorokin’s milestone moments are his 2019 Gagarin Cup win and playoff MVP with CSKA Moscow, his first NHL shutout against the Buffalo Sabres, and his Vezina Trophy finalist recognition in 2023. He also became one of the few goaltenders in NHL history to be credited with a goal and went on to claim the Islanders’ all-time shutouts record.
Ilya Sorokin Career Wins
Sorokin’s career win total spans the KHL, the NHL regular season, and the Stanley Cup playoffs. He has produced signature victories in the Gagarin Cup playoffs, the Stanley Cup playoffs, and across multiple NHL regular seasons with the New York Islanders.
KHL and NHL Highlights
In the KHL, Sorokin’s biggest win was the 2019 Gagarin Cup championship with CSKA Moscow, a performance that earned him playoff MVP honors. In the NHL, his first win came on 16 February 2021 against the Buffalo Sabres, and he has since piled up regular-season victories with the Islanders, including a 31-win 2022–23 campaign that carried him to Vezina Trophy finalist status.
Other Wins and Performances
Sorokin represented Russia internationally as a member of the Olympic Athletes from Russia team that won the gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics. That international success adds another major trophy to a resume that also includes KHL and NHL recognition.
Ilya Sorokin Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Limited public information is available about Sorokin’s immediate family. He grew up in Mezhdurechensk, Russia, and his upbringing in a coal-mining region helped shape his workmanlike approach to the sport.
Personal Life
Public records do not provide confirmed details about a spouse or children. Sorokin has kept his personal life largely private while focusing on his professional career in North America.
2025 Season Performance
Sorokin’s 2025 calendar year featured several of the most unusual statistical milestones of his NHL career. On 1 March 2025, he was credited with a rare goaltender goal against the Nashville Predators, and on 6 April 2025, he was in net when Alexander Ovechkin scored his record-breaking 895th career NHL goal against the Washington Capitals.
Late in 2025, Sorokin closed in on the Islanders’ all-time shutouts record. On 6 December 2025, he recorded his 25th career shutout, tying Chico Resch for the franchise mark in a 2–0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He followed that on 6 January 2026 with shutout number 26 against the New Jersey Devils, surpassing Resch to become the Islanders’ all-time leader in that category.
Now firmly established as the Islanders’ number-one option and signed through 2031, Sorokin continues to handle one of the heaviest workloads among NHL starting goaltenders. His combination of shutout production, calm demeanor, and durability has positioned him as the long-term backbone of the New York Islanders franchise.
