"Appearing on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, Ladd shared a behind-the-scenes story from the 2020 COVID bubble-Sorokin's very first days on North American ice. According to Ladd, two goalies in his entire career ever gave him that instant "this guy is going to be elite" feeling: Connor Hellebuyck and Sorokin. "You could tell right away as soon as you shoot on him," Ladd said. "There's been two goalies where I was like... these guys are gonna be good.""
"Sorokin had just arrived from the KHL and, Ladd recalled, the Islanders' goalie coaches absolutely worked him to exhaustion on his first day. "They almost made him puke," he said, but what impressed Ladd wasn't the skill - it was Sorokin's mindset. The next day, Sorokin approached Ladd after practice asking him to stay on the ice and shoot pucks. Ladd fired five from the top of the circle and scored four times."
Andrew Ladd noticed Ilya Sorokin's exceptional potential during Sorokin's first days on North American ice in the 2020 COVID bubble. Sorokin arrived from the KHL and endured intense practice sessions that nearly made him physically ill, but he demonstrated extraordinary mindset and determination. After practice Sorokin asked Ladd to shoot more pucks; Ladd scored repeatedly until Sorokin adjusted and Ladd could no longer score. Sorokin absorbed information instantly, learning shooters' releases, adjusting angles to the smaller NHL rink, and correcting mistakes in real time. Sorokin combined problem-solving, physical tools, and relentless work to become one of the Islanders' top goaltenders.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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