Player Discussion: Ilya Sorokin

Sorokin is the last guy on this team I'd be worried about. Expecting him to be a miracle worker every game is not fair to him. We're lax defensively, he's seeing a ton of rubber, our PK has swapped identities with our PP. If we could support our goaltending more instead of blowing D zone coverages and letting him face shooters from right in front of him I'm sure we wouldn't be having this conversation.
You're right. I'm over analyzing and grasping at straws.
 
Right now we're riding great streaks from Horvat, Dobber and Barzy. Going to be nice when we get one from Sorokin.
 
You're right. I'm over analyzing and grasping at straws.
He’s been weak since the playoffs. It’s more on him than the team. There’s plenty of defensive breakdowns, but he’s demonstrating mental Tommy Salo-like weaknesses to let in weak goals or goals at the wrong time.
 
He’s been weak since the playoffs. It’s more on him than the team. There’s plenty of defensive breakdowns, but he’s demonstrating mental Tommy Salo-like weaknesses to let in weak goals or goals at the wrong time.
Sorokin, all of the sudden, is showing mental weakness? He was mentally strong all of last season. It would be fair to say last playoff he was showing signs of fatigue. Now he’s become mentally weak? That’s a hoot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Foppberg
Sorokin, all of the sudden, is showing mental weakness? He was mentally strong all of last season. It would be fair to say last playoff he was showing signs of fatigue. Now he’s become mentally weak? That’s a hoot.
It’s a hoot he’s been pretty mediocre since that playoff series. He’s 37th in GAA. Yup, everything is normal. Vezina to follow.
 
So let’s call it mental weakness because we can’t figure out what else it could be.
Letting in weak goals is a mental weakness thing. Whether it’s temporary or not, who knows? Could be 5 games, 20 games, etc.
 
Sorokin was like 40th in this GSAE like 3 weeks ago lmao. Another good game could put him in 6th Playing absolutely out of his mind right now
Screenshot 2025-02-05 at 11.55.57 AM.png
 
Sorokin playing unbelievable lately, he’s given up 11 goals total in his last 8 starts. When watching him, I see a difference from last year and early this year. Good rebound control, can almost put the rebound to where he wants it, in the corners especially. Also seems a lot more agressive and seems like he’s covering more of the net during the last 8 games, makes himself look bigger, even though he not small (6’3”).
 
Sorokin playing unbelievable lately, he’s given up 11 goals total in his last 8 starts. When watching him, I see a difference from last year and early this year. Good rebound control, can almost put the rebound to where he wants it, in the corners especially. Also seems a lot more agressive and seems like he’s covering more of the net during the last 8 games, makes himself look bigger, even though he not small (6’3”).
I see a guy who is getting confident, not as tired as he was last year from popping up and down like a jack in the box, and is being helped by a team playing a Trotz-like 5 men low in the D zone
 
I see a guy who is getting confident, not as tired as he was last year from popping up and down like a jack in the box, and is being helped by a team playing a Trotz-like 5 men low in the D zone
I have a feeling that a lot of last year’s issues were from his back injury. After the surgery, he started slow this season, but has been fantastic lately, like his old self again. I don’t really think the defense has improved, they still struggle to clear their own zone. Hell, if it wasn’t for Sorokin vs Vegas the other night, they probably get blown out (outshot 34-14).
 
  • Like
Reactions: MarsTBOW
I have a feeling that a lot of last year’s issues were from his back injury. After the surgery, he started slow this season, but has been fantastic lately, like his old self again. I don’t really think the defense has improved, they still struggle to clear their own zone. Hell, if it wasn’t for Sorokin vs Vegas the other night, they probably get blown out (outshot 34-14).
Agreed that the entire team (forwards and D) has trouble clearing the zone, but they are doing a better job at keeping opponents outside, giving less high danger chances and limiting 2nd and 3rd shots on a sequence.
 
I see a guy who is getting confident, not as tired as he was last year from popping up and down like a jack in the box, and is being helped by a team playing a Trotz-like 5 men low in the D zone

Watching one game of Skarek and you see how good Sorokin is.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MJF
Just checked Billy Smiths stats. Looks like he only started around half the regular season games usually. Only had 50+ starts one year and it was early in his career.

After looking at Stats he would mostly split starts pretty evenly with Chico, Malanslon and Hrudy in his career during the regular season. The interesting thing is most years Billy smith didn’t have as good of a Save% as his partner but stepped up but in the playoffs.
 
Last edited:
Just checked Billy Smiths stats. Looks like he only started around half the regular season games usually. Only had 50+ starts one year and it was early in his career.

After looking at Stats he would mostly split starts pretty evenly with Chico, Malanslon and Hrudy in his career during the regular season. The interesting thing is most years Billy smith didn’t have as good of a Save% as his partner but stepped up but in the playoffs.
That’s why he was known as one of the most clutch goalies in nhl history. To bad so many people here never got to see those teams as we will never see that again.
 
Ilya is the one sticking point about a rebuild. He’s an elite goalie (though underrated now, given the down season last year); those are hard to find.
 
Yeah Billy Smith only cared about the playoffs, he always split time with Chico, Roland Melanson, etc. during the reg. season.

I recall an interview with ---- someone -- lol -- they were talking about how Al Arbour would manage his G's during the dynasty years. Like you mentioned, he would split time with the backups.... then -- knowing that G's play better with actual game time -- not practicing or sitting -- Arbour would run Smith 100% the last two weeks of the season to get him into a groove just as the end of the season was arriving to get him on point for the playoffs.


Me thinks he knew what he was doing.....
 
adding hide avatars option

Ad

Ad