New York Islanders: Top 10 Prospects Entering 2018
The New York Islanders prospect pool is among the best in the NHL. Let’s take a look at their top 10 prospects.
The New York Islanders are experiencing a bit of a youth movement. With the departure of John Tavares, the Isles are transitioning to a younger core led by Calder Trophy winner Mathew Barzal. In their farm system, they have a plethora of young prospects who should become impact players.
For the first time in a while, the Islanders future seems bright, both on and off the ice. Not all of their prospects will pan out, but the Isles have both quantity and quality when it comes to young players.
This list is based on several factors. First of all, talent matters most. Potential counts too. Likelihood of contributing also factors in. Let’s take a look at their top 10 prospects, starting with their top two goaltenders.
Goaltenders
1. Ilya Sorokin [23] (3-78, 2014)
Stats (CSKA Moskva, KHL): 37 games played, 1.59 goals against average, .931 save percentage, 8 shutouts (18 playoff games played, 1.52 GAA, .930 SV%, 5 SO).
Ilya Sorokin is one of the finest goaltenders in the KHL. He was seventh in goals-against average this past season, but third amongst goaltenders with more than 10 games played. He was eighth in save percentage amongst that group, and second in shutouts. In the playoffs, Sorokin was third in GAA, seventh in save percentage, and first in shutouts amongst goaltenders with more than five games.
He’ll bring multiple shutouts a season, and with access to better goaltending coaches could blossom into a franchise netminder
The problem with Sorokin and the New York Islanders is bringing him over. The Islanders have to convince the Russian goaltender to come to the NHL, which has become especially hard over the past two years. With the NHL missing out on the Olympics, that might not be the route Sorokin wants to go. After all, he’s one of the best Russian goaltenders still able to play in the Olympics. Representing the motherland might be his main goal.
But if the New York Islanders can convince Sorokin to come over, they’re getting an excellent goaltender. He’ll bring multiple shutouts a season, and with access to better goaltending coaches could blossom into a franchise netminder. The Islanders have the room to fit Sorokin in right away. They also now have the cap for the future. If the Islanders are going to see success in the new Barzal era, they’ll need a goaltender. It’ll take some work, but that goaltender should be Sorokin.
2. ChristopherGibson [25] (2-49, 2011)
Stats (Bridgeport Sound Tigers, AHL): 37 gp, 2.42 GAA, .906 SV%, 4 SO; 8 gp, 3.65 GAA, .908 SV%. New York Islanders, NHL
If Sorokin is the starter of the future, Christopher Gibson could be the backup. He’ll likely get more NHL time this season with Sorokin unconvinced, Jaroslav Halak now gone, and Thomas Greiss proving unreliable. The Islanders still have Robin Lehner, but two teams have been willing to move on from him, including the Buffalo Sabres (who gave up quite a bit to get him). That experiment may not work out for the Islanders.
he’s not the best solution, but he could be the most realistic one if everything falls apart this season
Gibson could provide a third option for the New York Islanders. He’s the most NHL ready of the Islanders’ goaltending prospects, and while he doesn’t have that high a ceiling currently, that should be fine. If he ends up being a placeholder while the Islanders enter heavy recruitment for Sorokin, that could give him valuable NHL time and provide a good transition. Gibson did better in the NHL than the AHL, and while he had a bad GAA, that’s not his fault.
Gibson was tied for seventh in shutouts amongst AHL goaltenders and was 30th in save percentage. Again, he’s not the best solution, but he could be the most realistic one if everything falls apart this season.