The New York Islanders have made a significant change in their coaching staff, terminating goaltender coach Piero Greco after just six games of the 2025 season. This decision follows a disappointing performance from starting goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who has struggled with a goals-against average of 3.90 and a save percentage of .873, ranking among the lowest in the NHL for netminders with at least four appearances.
General manager Mathew Darche announced the promotion of Sergei Naumovs from the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League to fill Greco’s role. Naumovs, who has a history with Sorokin dating back to their time together at CSKA Moscow in the KHL, steps into the position aiming to revitalize the team’s goaltending performance.
Greco had been with the Islanders since July 2018 and previously served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Under his guidance, Sorokin achieved notable success, including four top-10 finishes for the Vezina Trophy, highlighting his potential as one of the league’s top goaltenders. Sorokin was a runner-up to Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins in the 2022-23 season, showcasing his talent in the crease.
“The timing felt right for a reset with our goalies,” Darche stated. “Piero has done a great job for the organization for the last seven years, but I know Sergei has had success with Ilya, and that’s why we made this decision. It’s 100% my decision, and the goalie had nothing to do with it.”
Sorokin’s struggles have been evident, particularly in his first four starts under Greco’s direction, where he allowed four goals in each game. As the Islanders seek to rebound from a 3-3-0 start, which includes a recent 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks, the team hopes that Naumovs’ arrival will spark improvement in Sorokin’s performance.
In addition to the coaching change, the Islanders announced that forward Pierre Engvall underwent ankle surgery and is expected to be sidelined for the entire season, with a recovery timeline of approximately five to six months. Meanwhile, goaltender Semyon Varlamov continues to make progress in his recovery from knee surgery and is anticipated to return to action.
As the Islanders navigate these changes, the focus will be on improving their defensive game and ensuring that Sorokin returns to form. The decision to change coaches at this stage of the season is relatively uncommon, but the franchise is clearly committed to turning things around as they move forward into the heart of the NHL season.