New York Islanders defenseman Aklexander Romanov of Moscow, Russia will be out long term with shoulder surgery. The expected length of time Romanov is projected to be out is five to six months.
How did Romanov get hurt?
Romanov was hit from behind hard into the boards last Tuesday by Dallas Stars right winger Mikko Rantanen of Nousiainen, Finland. Rantanen was given a five minute major penalty for boarding and a 10 minute misconduct. However, in a controversial decision, Rantanen was not suspended by the National Hockey League. Then on Saturday, Rantanen was given a one game suspension after boarding Matt Coronato of the Calgary Flames in a 3-2 Stars loss to Calgary on Saturday. Rantanen was suspended on Tuesday against an inept Edmonton Oilers franchise at the moment. The Stars did not miss Rantanen at all as they smoked the Oilers 8-3 in Edmonton.
Romanov in 2025-26
This season, Romanov has one assist in 15 games. He is a -7 with six penalty minutes, 31 blocked shots, 31 hits, four takeaways, and 18 giveaways. Romanov’s assist came on November 14 in a 3-2 Islanders win over the Utah Mammoth. Romanov helped set up left winger Emil Heineman of Leksand, Sweden at 7:13 of the first period to open the scoring.
Offensive drop off from 2024-25
Romanov has struggled mightily this season statistically from an offensive standpoint compared to last season. In 2024-25, Romanov had four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in 64 games. He was a +5 with 20 penalty minutes, one shorthanded point, 165 blocked shots, 147 hits, 24 takeaways, and 81 giveaways.
How did Romanov become an Islander?
Romanov was initially the second round pick, 38th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He played two seasons for the Canadiens from 2020 to 2022, before his last four seasons with the Islanders. Romanov was traded by the Canadiens to the Islanders on July 7, 2022. The Islanders sent a first round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft to the Canadiens, and the Islanders also received a fourth round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft from the Canadiens. In the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, which took place in Montreal, the Canadiens traded the first round pick to Chicago and the Islanders selected defenseman Isaiah George of Oakville, Ontario.
Who will replace Romanov in the lineup?
At this time it appears to be Adam Boqvist of Falun, Sweden, and Marshall Warren of Laurel Hollow, New York. Warren has two assists for the Islanders in two games, and Boqvist has one assist in 10 games.
The Islanders are at 13 wins, nine regulation losses and two losses in extra time for 28 points. They are in a playoff spot as they are in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division.
