Former New York Islanders winger Andrew Ladd didn’t need long to realize Ilya Sorokin was going to be special. In fact, he knew it before Sorokin ever played an NHL game.
Appearing on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, Ladd shared a behind-the-scenes story from the 2020 COVID bubble—Sorokin’s very first days on North American ice. According to Ladd, two goalies in his entire career ever gave him that instant “this guy is going to be elite” feeling: Connor Hellebuyck and Sorokin. “You could tell right away as soon as you shoot on him,” Ladd said.