The Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders have been at the center of trade speculation regarding Russian goaltender Ilya Sorokin. On the surface, the trade is necessary for the Oilers. They don’t have a solid starting goaltender. As Stanley Cup contenders, the Oilers desperately need one.
For the Islanders, the deal would only make sense if the compensation was outstanding. That’s something the Oilers may struggle to come up with. But considering the extenuating circumstances, the Oilers may have to bite the bullet.
So, here’s a look at what a proposed Oilers-Islanders swap could look like:
Oilers get:
Ilya Sorokin, G
Pierre Engvall, F
Islanders get:
2027 first-round pick
2028 first-round pick
Isaac Howard, F
Stuart Skinner, G
Riley Stillman, D
The trade, by all accounts, is a huge price for the Oilers to pay. But it’s one they’ll have to pay up to get a goaltender like Sorokin. Sorokin is signed until 2032 and carries an $8.25 million cap hit. Given the current market, that’s hardly a bad deal for the Oilers.
The other piece the Oilers will have to take on is Pierre Engvall. He’s a cap dump and a player the Isles have been wanting to get rid of. While the Islanders could throw Scott Mayfield in instead of Engvall, Engvall is the most cumbersome contract on the Isles’ roster.
The Islanders, meanwhile, lose their starting goaltender. That’s why Stuart Skinner coming back is a must. Skinner can be penciled in as the starter in Long Island. There’s a chance the change of scenery could provide a fresh start. He’s got one more year left on his contract, so the Islanders don’t lose much in terms of cap space.
The real prize is the two first-round draft picks. Unless the Oilers suddenly become a lottery team, these picks are more like second-rounders. That’s why it would take two to get the deal done.
The Islanders also pluck the Oilers’ best prospect, Isaac Howard, who they recently acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Lastly, Riley Stillman is a defensive piece the Islanders could deploy predominantly at the AHL level. But he could play a factor at the NHL level if need be.
Sorokin Holds the Key to Trade with Oilers
Ilya Sorokin holds the key to a trade with the Edmonton Oilers. He’s got a full no-movement clause until 2028. So, Sorokin would have to approve the trade if the Islanders were willing to do it.
Assuming the Islanders got an offer they couldn’t refuse, Sorokin might be persuaded to waive his no-movement clause to play for a Cup contender. That’s an opportunity he’s unlikely to have this season in Long Island.
While that’s no to say the Islanders will never be Cup contenders during Sorokin’s time with the team, the chances are slim.
So, the chance at a Cup could be enough for Sorokin to waive his clause and head out West.
Why Islanders Would Agree to Trading Sorokin
At first glance, trading Sorokin seems implausible for the New York Islanders. They would lose a franchise goaltender, and without a replacement in the system, the club would have to bet on a tandem picking up the slack.
However, the Islanders aren’t solid playoff contenders, yet. They missed the playoffs last season after barely squeaking in the year before. The team is in the midst of a roster churn. With new faces coming in, the club may have to wait a couple of seasons before becoming serious playoff contenders.
That timeframe could buy the Islanders enough time to shop around for another starting goaltender. For instance, Sergei Bobrovsky will be a free agent after this upcoming season. So, there is some possibility the Islanders would pull the trigger on this type of deal, even if it’s a slim chance.
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