New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin’s back issue is not quite as cut and dry as Lou Lamoriello made it seem last week.
On Monday morning, head coach Patrick Roy disclosed that Sorokin had back surgery during the offseason, an issue that was previously hinted at but not given much detail. Lamoriello revealed that Sorokin suffered an injury during his offseason training but is currently skating when he spoke with the media on Friday.
“There’s nothing we’re concerned about,” he said.
A timetable for his return is unclear, but his absence is only expected to be limited to the first few days of training camp, which begins on Thursday. That means New York’s No. 1 goalie should be ready to go for the start of the 2024-25 season, which begins on Oct. 10 against the Utah Hockey Club.
Concerns regarding Sorokin arose last week when Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the 29-year-old netminder was “battling something,” — its vagueness suggesting it could be anything from a physical injury to mental struggles.
“I wouldn’t read into anything,” Lamoriello said. “He’s been here all summer… There is no player with more impeccable character or mental toughness [than Sorokin]. I’m shocked that he had no knowledge of anything that was rumored out there, personally.”
Sorokin experienced a season of regression last year, going 25-19-12 with a 3.01 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. By comparison, he finished second in the Vezina Trophy voting in 2022-23 in which he posted a .924 save percentage and a 2.34 goals-against average.
