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Overseas Notes: Sorokin, Samonov, Bobkov, Austria

December 18, 2019 at 8:57 pm CDT | by Zach Leach 1 Comment

For many New York Islanders fans, Russian goalie prospect Ilya Sorokin has long been considered the team’s stud goalie of the future. However, a new report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman casts doubt on that premise. Friedman hears from sources in Russia that Sorokin continues to negotiate an extension in the KHL, where he currently stars for perennial contender CSKA Moscow. At 24 years old already, another contract in Russia would be a tough pill to swallow for the Islanders, who would potentially be waiting until Sorokin was well past “prospect” age. Of course, Friedman believes that talks with Moscow could in fact be a ploy to force a trade from the Islanders. He believes that Sorokin wants a clear path to guaranteed appearances in the NHL and may not see that opportunity in New York. This would be an ironic development, seeing as many pointed to the long-term signing of Semyon Varlamov this summer as a way of convincing fellow Russian keeper Sorokin to sign with the Isles, not the other way around. Not enough is known about this situation just yet to definitively say that Sorokin would like a trade from the Islanders and would rather play in Russia than New York, but perhaps fans need to begin to temper their expectations that the young KHL star is cemented as their heir apparent in net.

  • Two Russian goalies who definitely won’t be making the jump to the NHL any time soon are Alexander Samonov and Igor Bobkov. Samonov, 24, is enjoying a breakout year with SKA St. Petersburg and has decided to sign long-term with the team, inking a three-year extension. SKA dealt Carolina Hurricanes prospect Pyotr Kotchetkov to Vityaz Podolsk earlier this season to acquire the red-hot Samonov, and so far the investment has paid off. Samonov has led SKA in appearances since the trade and his .934 save percentage and 1.83 GAA are among the best numbers in the KHL, even though he was even better to begin the year with Vityaz. If he was to continue this level of play, Samonov would undoubtedly draw NHL interest, but with a new deal that would not allow him to debut in North America until he was 28, the odds are that Samonov may never play in the NHL at all. Bobkov meanwhile had his cup of coffee in North America, but could never push beyond the AHL level while playing in the Anaheim Ducks system. Since returning to Russia, Bobkov has asserted himself as one of the best goalies in the league and is having the best season of his career thus far, with a .926 save percentage and 1.85 GAA in a whopping 31 appearances already for Avangard Omsk. The team has rewarded their workhorse with a two-year extension, carrying him into his thirties. As such, Bobkov is unlikely to play in the NHL again.
  • The 2020 World Junior Championship has not yet even begun, but one team is already looking ahead to 2021. Austria was the surprise winner at the Division 1-A WJC in Minsk, Belarus. The tournament, which offers the champion the opportunity to move up to the top level of the WJC, ended on Sunday with an unassuming Austrian squad at the top. A dominant Team Latvia, as well as strong entries from Norway and Belarus, were unable to get it done. Austria, which accounts for just three NHL players and hasn’t had a player drafted in a number of year, will instead make their return to the main tournament next year.
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KHL| NHL| New York Islanders| Players Elliotte Friedman| Ilya Sorokin

Anaheim’s Derek Grant, Troy Terry Out Long-Term
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Minor Transactions: 12/19/19
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Comments

  1. nk

    5 years ago

    Sorokin is playing a dangerous game. LL is not one to move due to pressure from an agent. He already lost Lehner basically to sign this guy. He is not going to let Greiss walk as well if he isn’t coming. The Isles will retain his rights forcing Sorokin to sign a 1 year deal in Russia.

    If he wants big money Russia short-term is his best bet but long-term it is in the NHL and until he proves himself in the NHL/AHL will not get the type of money and term that he thinks he deserves. Plus GM’s are moving away from the 1 goalie playing 55 and the other playing 25-27 games as shown by the Isles tandem the last 2 seasons. It is closer to a 50/50 split.

    I was not in favor of signing Varly for this guy but the Isles felt he would be the player/agent combo that would get Sorokin here and I am sure the agent gave some assurances. If he fails to come through leaving the Isles with Varly for 3 more seasons at decent money, don’t look for Lou to do Sorokin any favors.

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