Ilya Sorokin was the Islanders’ most valuable player, keeping the team competitive when scoring lagged and stealing games that otherwise would have led to a worse standings outcome. Late in the season, Sorokin’s workload caught up, and the Islanders faded quickly, dropping from a playoff position to the NHL Draft Lottery in about three weeks. The team needs to protect Sorokin’s peak performance by improving its defensive system, including better structure under Peter DeBoer and the return of Alexander Romanov. The Islanders should also secure a trusted backup goalie, potentially re-signing David Rittich or exploring options such as Daniil Tarasov.
"This past season, the Isles' netminder proved to be the team's most valuable player. He kept the club afloat for much of the season, especially when the scoring just wasn't there. The Vezina Trophy nominee stole a fair number of games. If it hadn't been for those games, the Islanders would have sunk even further in the standings."
"The downside to relying solely on Sorokin to carry the load became evident at the end of the season. Sorokin ran out of gas, and the Islanders faded. They went from a playoff spot to the NHL Draft Lottery in a span of about three weeks. That's why the Isles need to prioritize keeping Sorokin at his peak next season."
"The first thing the Islanders must do is clean up their defensive game. The first major step towards that aim was bringing in Peter DeBoer. Under DeBoer's tutelage, the Isles' overall defensive system should improve. Additionally, the return of Alexander Romanov should also positively impact the team. Losing Romanov for practically the entire season made things more challenging on Sorokin than they had to be."
"David Rittich played reasonably well this past season. He appeared in 30 games, winning 14, and posting a 2.76 GAA and an .894 SV%. The numbers weren't overly impressive, but weren't bad, either. If Rittich's a guy the Islanders trust, they should bring him back. However, there's an argument to be made for bringing in a sexier backup goalie. Perhaps someone like Daniil Tarasov, who had a solid year in Florida, could be an option."
Read at Eyes On Isles
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