WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Rare Achievement for Goaltenders
Winning the Hart Trophy as a goaltender is quite uncommon, but Connor Hellebuyck managed to break that trend last season after a decade-long gap.
As Hellebuyck prepared to face the Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin on Tuesday, it raised an interesting question: could Sorokin, who’s currently favored for the Vezina Trophy, also claim the league MVP title?
Teammates and the head coach believe he certainly deserves it.
“He’s one of our best players this year,” said Emil Heineman. “He’s won a lot of games for us, so he should definitely be in the mix.”
Jean-Gabriel Pageau echoed this, stating, “For me, he’s the best goaltender in the NHL.”
“Absolutely,” added coach Patrick Roy.
But let’s be honest for a moment. The Islanders’ views might not be the most objective when it comes to the viability of their teammate for such an award. So, is there a genuine argument for Sorokin’s inclusion in the Hart discussions?
Well, it really depends on the perspective. If one sticks strictly to the idea of “most valuable player to the team,” then sure, Sorokin is undoubtedly the Islanders’ MVP. However, if that was the sole criteria, it’s likely all five top goaltenders would be on the ballot, which is rather improbable.
Last year, when Hellebuyck took home the trophy, he led the league with 47 wins and had impressive metrics like a 2.00 points per game average and a .925 save percentage. Draisaitl, who he outpaced, had a significant scoring record with 106 points.
Fast forward to Sorokin’s current stats: he doesn’t top the league in any of those areas yet. His four shutouts are impressive, but proving his worthiness for the Hart will depend largely on deeper analysis of his contributions.
According to Mike Kelley from SportLogiq, Sorokin currently leads in goals saved above expectations and has nine goaltender “steals” this season, also ranking highly in their Quality Start Index. However, it’s worth noting that the metrics from Evolving Hockey place him slightly lower.
While these stats sound compelling, the challenge is that many of the Hart Trophy voters may not have access to such analytics. Thus, making a case grounded primarily in statistics might not resonate as effectively with them, although that might seem a bit unfair.
Another factor in the mix is Nathan MacKinnon, who is enjoying an outstanding season with 81 points in just 45 games, positioning him as a leading contender for the MVP.
Interestingly, if we compare Sorokin’s current situation to his own performance in the previous season, he stood out by leading the Islanders to the playoffs and achieved a remarkable 51.36 goals saved above expectations, which was one of the highest on record. Last year, he finished second in Vezina voting and was ninth for the Hart Trophy.
This season, the Islanders are a stronger team, which could enhance Sorokin’s chances during awards season. But, it’s still uncertain if he can penetrate the MVP conversation. There’s plenty of time for changes, of course, and the Islanders are likely to emphasize how crucial Sorokin has been to their success.
“He impacts the game every time he steps on the ice,” Pageau commented. “He gives us a chance to win, and many times, he secures those wins for us. He’s our best player nearly every night. I would absolutely consider him for the Hart race.”
