#How Islanders’ playoff run has been huge for Ilya Sorokin

The Islanders showed just how much they value team camaraderie when they used a playoff roster spot on recently signed goaltender Ilya Sorokin.

Even though Sorokin, the organization’s 78th-overall pick in 2014 who signed an entry-level contract and then a one-year extension in July, is ineligible to play this postseason, Isles management evidently felt it was more important to begin integrating him into the team rather than utilizing the roster spot on someone who could add depth to the lineup.

And according to head coach Barry Trotz, the 25-year-old Sorokin has taken that head start on building chemistry with his new teammates and ran with it.

“Especially for a guy like Sorokin coming in, he’s been diligent,” Trotz said on a Zoom call prior to Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday night. “From an organizational standpoint, he’s working with our goaltending coaches all the days, he’s taking English lessons daily, with a tutor and learning that, and he’s getting English all day and hanging out and getting the personalities. From a standpoint of integration, if you’re a player coming in, there couldn’t be a better situation.

“There’s no pressure to play, we have two very popular goalies in [Semyon] Varlamov and [Thomas] Greiss. With Ilya’s background, that could create some tension. It has created zero tension, and you find out what a terrific person he is and how he’s integrated with the other players. He’s fit in seamlessly.”

The Islanders were gearing up to leave for the Toronto bubble when Lou Lamoriello addressed the media after signing Sorokin for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, which essentially nullified his ELC and allowed the team to sign him to a one-year, $2 million contract extension for the 2020-21 season. The Islanders general manager made it clear that he didn’t want the goaltending prodigy to steal the current team’s limelight in the playoffs, but his new teammates have had nothing but positive things to relay.

“He’s awesome,” said Michael Dal Colle, who has primarily worked with the secondary practice group of reserves that includes Sorokin. “He’s a really hard-working guy. When he got here, obviously he didn’t really know anyone. He’s worked a lot off-ice, on his English. He’s adjusted really well and he works hard in practice.”

Both Trotz and Matt Martin, who’s been with the Islanders for nine of his 11 seasons in the NHL, agreed that chemistry has been one of the team’s strengths long before this run to the Eastern Conference finals. But it’s been easy to see how much it’s grown with the isolation of the NHL’s bubbles.

From the ping pong tournament that captured the attention of all NHL fans to Varlamov’s belly-flop slide into the celebration after their Game 6 double overtime win Tuesday night, the Islanders are having fun.

But what’s made the cohesiveness of this Islanders club all the more impressive is how instrumental Lamoriello’s trade deadline additions have become to the team’s chemistry. Trotz believes Andy Greene, acquired from the Devils on Feb. 16, acts like he’s been an Islander his entire 14-year NHL career and it was Jean-Gabriel Pageau, acquired from the Senators and signed to a six-year deal on Feb. 24, who emerged as champion of the ping pong tournament.

“This group loves to hangout together, this group are best friends,” Trotz said. “You don’t see these three guys go with these three guys, everybody is intermingled. It’s really helped.”