Dec 4, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) plays the puck against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin has been named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the top goaltender in the NHL, the league announced Wednesday.
Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning join Sorokin as finalists for the award, which has been handed out every year since 1927.
Sorokin nearly single-handedly carried the Islanders to the playoffs this season despite playing behind an inconsistent defense that fell apart down the stretch. He went 29-24-2 with a 2.68 goals-against average, .906 save percentage, and a league-leading seven shutouts. He allowed two or fewer goals 21 times. His 452 high-danger saves and his .864 save percentage on high-danger chances ranked No. 1 in the NHL.
Should he win, Sorokin would be the first Islanders’ goaltender to win the Vezina since Billy Smith in 1981-82.
“I think it’s not in [the discussion]. No chance,” Sorokin said of his Vezina chances. “I don’t think about this. I think about making the playoffs. We targeted hard work this year. I think I had a good season, maybe a little bit went down. But in total, the guys played well. We have a good group here.”
Vasilevskiy, who won the Vezina Trophy in 2019, led the NHL in wins this season for the sixth time in his career and ranked second with a 2.12 goals-against average. Swayman went 31-18-4 with a 2.71 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in 54 games.
For more on Ilya Sorokin and the Islanders, visit AMNY.com