New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin participated in his team’s full team practice on Thursday — the first time he has done so since undergoing offseason back surgery.
“I feel really good,” Sorokin said. “We did a great job the last two months. I feel good mentally and physically.”
The procedure was the first surgery of the 29-year-old’s career, and considering it is his back, it does provide some uncertainty even after the completion of the recovery process.
“I found a new muscle in my body,” he joked. “It made for a big job for the staff… I’m very happy [with them].”
With the start of the 2024-25 season just one week away, his availability for the opener on Oct. 10 against Utah is still very much up in the air.
“We’re just going to go day by day,” head coach Patrick Roy said. “I can’t say more than that because we don’t know what tomorrow will be. I’d rather keep it day by day and see how he is. We’re going to give him his time, no doubt about it.”
Sorokin, though, certainly appears to be aiming to be between the pipes next Thursday at UBS Arena.
“I’m doing everything I can to be ready,” he said. “If the head coach says I’m ready to play opening night, that’s his business. My business is to do all the things [to get] my body and my head ready.”
Despite being one of the top goaltenders in the league, Sorokin will have something to prove following a down season last year. Following a second-place finish in the Vezina Trophy voting two years ago, his numbers regressed substantially in 2023-24, posting a .908 save percentage and a 3.01 goals-against average.
“Everybody wants to be better,” Sorokin said. “If not, you can’t be a professional player. The past season is in the past. I just try to focus on the small details. If you do those small details right, it’s going to pick up your game.”
