Ranking the top-6 goaltenders in the Metro Division

Ilya Sorokin and Igor Shesterkin once again hold down the top spots – but we saw plenty of change beyond them.

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Every summer I like to rank the best Metro Division players by position and see how the New Jersey Devils do – or don’t – stack up in each grouping.

Now that we find ourselves smack in the middle of the dullest hockey month of the calendar, I figured it was the perfect time to get started.

Up first are the goaltenders!

1. Ilya Sorokin (last year: 2 )

I honestly don’t know where the New York Islanders would be without Ilya Sorokin. Picking top-10 every year? Probably! Sorokin is that good – and that important – to the Islanders.

While many goaltenders deal with inconsistencies, and their performance varies greatly on a year-to-year basis, Sorokin is one of the true pillars who always provides A-level netminding.

In 2021-22 he actually finished with a higher 5v5 save percentage than Igor Shesterkin, who had a historically dominant year.

Sorokin followed that up by posting an even higher 5v5 save percentage while leading all goaltenders in that category among those to make 50 starts.

Sorokin also saved 50+ goals above expectation and cleared second place Juuse Saros by more than six goals, according to Evolving-Hockey.

He is a true superstar and, in my opinion, the best goaltender in the sport right now.

2. Igor Shesterkin (LY: 1)