EAST MEADOW, NY — It’s been 311 days since New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov last played in an NHL game.
On Nov. 18, 2025, he was tripped into the boards by Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen, injuring his right shoulder, which led to season-ending surgery.
Romanov wasn’t having his best season prior to the injury, and questions about his future on Long Island arose as a result.
General manager Mathieu Darche believes in the player — that’s why he signed him to an eight-year extension worth $6.25 million annually in the summer of 2025 — but challenged him to come into this training camp in better shape than he did a year ago.
Romanov answered the call, coming in 13 pounds lighter than he did a year ago.
“He came in unbelievable shape,” Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer said. “He’s lighter. He’s quicker. I love his physicality as everybody does. At the same time, he can really skate. He’s hard to play against. He has top-four upside, and it’s on us to make sure that we bring that out.”
I asked DeBoer a follow-up on the “top-four upside” line:
“He has all the tools for that. There’s a spot there for him in that hole. So he’s got to come back healthy, which he is right now. He hasn’t played games in a long time, so we’ve got to give him some runway there to get back up to speed. But I’m excited about what I see in practice and how it translates to the games.”
In the past, Romanov has shown a willingness to jump in on the rush. But there’s a time and place for that:
“Well, I think the way we’re going to play, we want our D supporting every rush, and that’s not just him. That’s everybody. So that’s a non-negotiable for all our guys. At the same time, it’s not a reckless thing, and there’s a lot of structure to how we do it. But he seems to grasp that, and he likes that end of it.”
He’s been skating alongside Ryan Pulock at training camp after spending much of the last season and a half alongside Tony DeAngelo.
Here’s what Pulock said on Thursday:
“I think Romy looks good. I think he looks ready to go. I think in practice, he’s — it’s like he’s itching to get into some games. It’s been a long break for him, coming back from surgery. He was close at the end of the year, and then not being able to get in and having to wait all summer. I’m sure he’s eager to get back at it, but he looks good. He’s moving well. He looks fit. He looks good, and he’s a big part of this team. So, it’s huge to have him back healthy.”
Tonight, he’ll skate in his first game since going down, alongside Pulock as the Islanders host the New York Rangers in their second-to-last preseason game.
He’ll also play in their preseason conclusion against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.
Here’s my chat with Romanov.
Romanov Q & A
Stefen Rosner: I know you talk about how good you feel, but how excited are you to get into the game?
Alexander Romanov: “I was waiting, like, the whole year, you know? And yeah, just excited to play my first game since I was injured. It’s an important game for me just to feel how it feels to play hockey and join the team.”
Stefen Rosner: Obviously, you’re not someone that wants to chase hits, but after what you went through with the injury, just to go out on the rink and lay that first hit, do you feel like getting into the action right away, laying that hit and going from there?
Alexander Romanov: “Yeah, if it comes. I’m not gonna chase anyone. But if it comes, I’m there.”
Stefen Rosner: Playing with Ryan Pulock, what’s that been like?
Alexander Romanov: “I mean, he’s a great hockey player, and I think — I don’t like to use the word chemistry. I don’t like ‘chemistry,’ but he’s a great player. I’m a good player, and I think we can do something good for our team. And we’re here to try to win the Stanley Cup. And, step by step, we’re going to get there. And I think if we play our best hockey, and everyone — me and him — we’ll try to play our best game every game, every shift.”
Stefen Rosner: How comfortable are you with the DeBoer system?
Alexander Romanov: “Yeah, I’m comfortable. It’s a different system, but I think we’ll be a better team.”