Islanders Ink Franchise Goalie Ilya Sorokin To Eight Year Extension

The New York Islanders are running it back again with the same team they had over the last couple of seasons. On the first day of free agency, the Islanders inked four players to long-term extensions.  This includes franchise goalie Ilya Sorokin, backup goalie Semyon Varlamov, defenceman Scott Mayfield, and forward Pierre Engvall.

Islanders sign Ilya Sorokin to an 8 year contract extension. $8.25 million AAV #isles @FullPressNHL @myNHLTradeRumor

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— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) July 1, 2023

Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said after the Bo Horvat signing “It’s Too Long and For Too Much Money!”

You have to wonder how he feels about signing Sorokin to an eight-year contract that carries an $8.25 million contract. This is similar to what Horvat got after being traded to the Islanders from the Vancouver Canucks.

Let’s be Sorokin is worth every penny and if it was not for Sorokin, the Islanders would not have made the playoffs. He gives the team a chance to win every night. And franchise goalies are hard to come by.

As Jamie McLennan told Full Press Hockey, “Why is it such a bad thing that top goalies get paid like top forwards? Why is that frowned upon? Certain goalies deserve that kind of money and Sorokin is one of those guys.”

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Sorokin has been electric for the Islanders ever since coming over from Russia. This past season he set career highs in wins with 31. It was the most since Jaroslav Halak in the 2014-15 season. Sorokin was up for the Vezina Trophy this season with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage leading the NHL with six shutouts.

In his career, he has played in 16 games with a 2.70 GAA and a .925 save percentage. The Islanders are in good hands with Ilya Sorokin.

In addition to Sorokin, the Islanders kept Scott Mayfield, Semyon Varlamov, and Pierre Engvall.

Islanders sign Scott Mayfield and Pierre Engvall to 7 year deals. Varlamov get a four year deal. This is in addition to the Sorokin 8 year extension. #isles @FullPressNHL

— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) July 1, 2023

Varlamov got a four-year extension that carries a $2.75 million AAV. This duo of Sorokin and Varlamov has been excellent and Lamoriello keeps it together for at least four years.

Mayfield was going to hit free agency and was coveted, but Lamoriello made it clear he wanted to keep him. He signed the defenceman to a seven-year deal carrying $3.5 million AAV. The Islanders were not going any higher to keep him. Mayfield is a big physical top-four defenceman and learned from their past mistakes in letting a veteran defenceman walk.

Finally, Engvall also got a seven-year deal that carries a $3 million AAV. The Islanders acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Engvall is a typical Lamoriello player. He is a good middle-six player that fits the mould of what the Islanders are doing. He recorded 30 points last season (17 goals and 13 assists).

The Islanders keep four of their key players but still need to address goal-scoring which continues to be a weakness.