Is this an ELC? Because he’s an RFA when it expires
He signed a 1 year ELC that expires after this season, so this is pretty much a bridge contract. Makes the most sense to give him money right away as incentive to come over to North America.
He signed a 1 year ELC that expires after this season, so this is pretty much a bridge contract. Makes the most sense to give him money right away as incentive to come over to North America.
I knew it!!!! Look for the KHL SWARM!!!! This is the example for any KHL player 24 and over to get their money ASAP vs actually waiting a year. Let's see if the NHL intervenes or not.
That's pretty cheap. I'm guessing he took a discount because they burned a year of ELC.
The signing bonus will help lower his QO. Though I doubt he gets less than 2M on his next contract.
It is cheap, but it’s probably not larger since the Islanders have major cap problems right now and Sorokin isn’t proven in North America. Plus it puts him in a pretty good spot, ending up 1 year from UFA when it finishes up.
It is cheap, but it’s probably not larger since the Islanders have major cap problems right now and Sorokin isn’t proven in North America. Plus it puts him in a pretty good spot, ending up 1 year from UFA when it finishes up.
I'm sure he could have gotten more money playing tax free in the KHL as the top goalie.
So yes this contract is pretty great for him but if he lives up to the hype the Islanders can be cup contenders and he left money on the table.
Idk of he directly deals with the goalies anymore but he’s amazing. I remember the major jump Holtby made and how good grubs got after working w him.
I went to a Hockey Goalie school .... I'd say like 5 or 7 yrs ago w/ my buddies kid when he was like 13 or 14 and Mitch was running the school ....
And I learned more about The Goalie position in 2 Days, than I ever did before. He is a Goalie Yoda / Jedi mix bro.
I'm sure he could have gotten more money playing tax free in the KHL as the top goalie.
So yes this contract is pretty great for him but if he lives up to the hype the Islanders can be cup contenders and he left money on the table.
i mean, you've seen his KHL track record, i presume. dude's got nothing left to prove in Russia. a lot of European players love the idea of getting their shot in the NHL, 'cause it's got the best competition in the world, and it's the biggest stage for hockey. and athletes are competitors; they relish the chance to challenge themselves. i wouldn't be surprised if Sorokin didn't care about the money more than the chance to compete in the NHL.
i mean, you've seen his KHL track record, i presume. dude's got nothing left to prove in Russia. a lot of European players love the idea of getting their shot in the NHL, 'cause it's got the best competition in the world, and it's the biggest stage for hockey. and athletes are competitors; they relish the chance to challenge themselves. i wouldn't be surprised if Sorokin didn't care about the money more than the chance to compete in the NHL.
he probably didn't have much leverage to demand more. most RFAs don't, to begin with, and the KHL doesn't consistently produce top-tier goalies. Pavel Francouz was a UFA and had established himself as one of the best goalies in the KHL, and he took a near-league-minimum contract and had to spend a year in the AHL. most GMs are pretty gun-shy about goaltending, especially for goalies that come from European leagues that don't utilize the same rink size.
he probably didn't have much leverage to demand more. most RFAs don't, to begin with, and the KHL doesn't consistently produce top-tier goalies. Pavel Francouz was a UFA and had established himself as one of the best goalies in the KHL, and he took a near-league-minimum contract and had to spend a year in the AHL. most GMs are pretty gun-shy about goaltending, especially for goalies that come from European leagues that don't utilize the same rink size.
He had a lot of leverage. "Pay me or I stay in the KHL." He just decided not to use it.
That's why teams are afraid of drafting Russian players. They have a lot more leverage because if the KHL.