Florida Panthers Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky Paves Path For Islanders Ilya Sorokin's Future Success

A contract is always judged like the cover of a book.

But what matters to a franchise and the fan base is what happens when the book ends, not what happens after chapter one, chapter two, or chapter three.

When goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky signed a seven-year, $70 million contract with the Florida Panthers in the summer of 2019, everyone said that $10 million annually was a complete overpay for a goaltender.

Now, Florida is a Stanley Cup champion, with Bobrovsky (2.32, .906 SV%) playing a vital part in their return to the Stanley Cup Final for a second straight season -- and this time winning it.

After third-string goaltender turned starter Adin Hill won the Stanley Cup in 2023 with the Vegas Golden Knights, his success created a major conversation about how much goalies should be valued.

Hill played extremely well while carrying an annual cap hit of $2.175 million.

Darcy Kuemper, who won the Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, made $4.5 million annually.

The play of these goalies proved the case that teams don't need an elite goalie to win it all -- but a goalie to get hot and make the big save in the big moment.

Edmonton Oilers starter Stuart Skinner, who makes $2.6 million annually, was fantastic and almost helped Edmonton come back from down three games to none before falling 2-1 in Game 7.

Teams aren't going to win many Game 7s, scoring just one goal, but unfortunately for Skinner, the game-winning goal off the stick of Sam Reinhart is one that needs to be stopped.

That's not to say that Bobrovsky hasn't allowed soft goals or that an elite goalie can't fail in the big moments, but the elite goalies get paid the big bucks because the potential for them to make the big save is higher than a "weaker" goalie.

Is it worth $6-$8 million more?

For Florida, it was.

Bobrovsky hoisting Lord Stanley was incredibly important to the New York Islanders , their gameplan, and having fans "on their side," if you will.

After ending the 2021-22 season as a Vezina finalist -- the main reason why the Islanders made the postseason -- starting netminder Ilya Sorokin inked an eight-year extension worth $66 million, which carries an annual cap hit of $8.25 million.

The expectations were high, and in Year 1, Sorokin -- not just his fault -- failed to live up to that, as he posted a 3.01 GAA with a .908 SV%, both career worsts.

He ended up losing the starting job to Semyon Varlamov, who carried the Islanders into the postseason down the stretch.

In a chance for redemption and to make a statement, Sorokin dropped the ball in Game 3 of their First-Round series against the Carolina  Hurricanes, allowing three goals on 14 shots.

Related: Islanders Sorokin Pulled, Shifts Momentum After Carolina Hurricanes Score Third Goal

"It was a tough season for me, and I learn all season. Big experience," Sorokin said on break-up day. "It's a good time for me because when you don't win, you learn, and I have the confidence and motivation to be better."

Related: Islanders Ilya Sorokin Ready To Put Tough Season Behind Him: 'When You Don't Win, You Learn'

If the Islanders are going to accomplish anything in 2024-25 or over the next seven years, Sorokin will have to play a vital role.

He can't be a negative, or the organization is in trouble.

To be fair to Sorokin, Panthers general manager Bill Zito built an incredible team with his blockbuster move to acquire Mathew Tkachuk in the summer of 2022, which paid incredible dividends in bringing a need to a team on the cusp.

There were many reasons this past season that the Islanders needed until Game 81 to clinch a playoff spot. Sorokin's inconsistencies, in part, were due to the inconsistencies of the team in front of him.

Even the best goaltenders need a strong support system, especially later in seasons, given the grind.

The team in front of Sorokin isn't as good as Florida, which is why this summer is essential for the Islanders to get a difference-maker, that final piece to complete the top-line, which in part should help the rest of the group, including Sorokin, amongst filling other holes.

The 28-year-old goalie can't score goals, but his skillset allows the Islanders to win every night -- when he's on his game.

Fans that are calling for Sorokin to be traded are going to be disappointed.

The Islanders have committed the money and term to him, and he has a full no-movement clause.

For a team lacking star power (unlike Florida), goaltending is trivial.

Yes, maybe the Islanders should have thought of not making the long-term investment and using some of his cap hit to fill holes, especially with Varlamov proving to still be a capable No. 1 in the NHL.

But hindsight is 20/20.

If Sorokin can rediscover his game -- even if it takes one season for him to get back to his Vezina self -- when the Islanders are positioned to be a true Stanley Cup contender, a clutch Sorokin could be the difference from snapping a 40-year Cup drought.

Not to mention, with the cap going up exponentially, his AAV could end up being "low" for the elite goalies in the NHL.

Just wait until everyone sees what New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin, arguably the best NHL goaltender in the NHL, gets this summer.

Sports are unpredictable, and for the Islanders, unfortunately, many decisions that have been made in the club's history have backfired immensely.

But for a team that lacked a game-changing goalie after years of a goalie carousel, at least allow Sorokin the opportunity to bounce back, as the Panthers did en route to the first Stanley Cup in the franchise's existence.

The ball is in Sorokin's court like it was in Bobrovsky's.

The question is, will Sorokin rise to the occasion, and how much help will he ultimately get to live up to his potential before his time on the island comes to an end?

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