EXCLUSIVE: Alexander Romanov Gets Real About His Play -- 'Gotta Show A Better Game'
Alexander Romanov opens up about his play, admitting he’s not satisfied with his performance and wants to earn more trust on the Islanders’ blue line.
Happy Free Friday!
EAST MEADOW, NY — On June 30, the New York Islanders announced an eight-year extension for defenseman Alexander Romanov, carrying an average annual value of $6.25 million.
The groundwork for the deal was laid by Lou Lamoriello, with Mathieu Darche continuing negotiations and ultimately finalizing it — a clear sign of how much the organization values what No. 28 brings to the lineup.
Unfortunately for Romanov, the 2025-26 season hasn’t gone the way he or his defense partner, Tony DeAngelo, would have liked.
In eight games together, the pair has been on the ice for seven goals against, per Natural Stat Trick. Romanov has seven giveaways over that span.
After missing five games earlier this season — before returning against the Washington Capitals — it’s evident Romanov is still working to find his rhythm within the system.
Since his arrival on Long Island, one thing has stood out: Romanov isn’t a stay-at-home defenseman. He loves to jump into the rush. That instinct has, at times, made it difficult to mesh seamlessly with offensive-minded partners like Noah Dobson in the past, and it’s been a factor with DeAngelo this season as well.
This duo opened the year as the Islanders’ top pairing, but based on recent minutes, they’ve since been relegated to the third pair.
I sat down with Romanov on Thursday to get his perspective on how things have gone so far with him and DeAngelo this season.
Stefen Rosner: You have always been really honest about your play. How are you feeling about it right now?
Alexander Romanov: “I mean, after I came back after the injury, I don’t think we play bad games — like Carolina, Washington, Columbus — decent games. Last game wasn’t like… wasn’t brilliant, but I mean, we’ll try to play better. It’s not always— it doesn't always go the best way. But I mean, the last three or four games, I don’t think we played our best. Like, we can play better. Of course, we gotta play better.”
Over these last four games, Romanov-DeAngelo has been on the ice for three goals against.
“I want to be trusted [with more minutes]. We gotta show a better game.”
Rosner: When you see the mistakes happening, do you think it’s more communication than anything?
Romanov: “I mean, the first goal was like, really unlucky goal. It hit off a skate, and like everyone says it’s a goal, like, against Tony and I — like, it went off the skate. This happens every time, with everyone. And like, everyone has dangerous chances against, but sometimes just unlucky goals like that. Like this one, you know? It’s tough to say, like, okay, yeah, it began with my mistake — that I made a bad pass. But after that, we have 10 seconds of the game, and it bounced off skates into our net. So it happens. Like I already said, it happens with everyone. It was just an unlucky goal.”
Here’s what DeAngelo told me a few weeks back:
“We’re totally fine. I really think that there’s been some really good sequences, and then all of a sudden there’s a sequence and boom, it’s in the back of the net. We haven’t been able to catch, I won’t even say a break. It’s not a break. The mistakes that we’ve made as a partnership have been in the back of the net. Not really what you want, not really ideal, especially early in the season. You’d like to see one of them go wide or hit a post or something. They’ve all went in. So, we got to bear down a little bit. It’s not just on him or just me. It’s just together. We got to support each other a little more, talk a little more. If one of us is having a rough night, let the other guy know and be a little more simpler night, and just make it easy. Get through the game without giving up anything. Like in the first game against Pittsburgh, neither one of us were at our best, but we let up nothing. You get through the game, you know, which is what you want to do when you’re like that. Last game, we let up two little goofy plays. Stick breaks, he falls. So we just got to try to limit that and simplify a little bit.”
I asked head coach Patrick Roy what he’s seen with Romanov so far:
“I love Romy, because Romy cares. There’s nobody tougher on themselves than him. He wants to play well. He wants to perform, and I think sometimes he may evaluate his game a little too hard…he’s too hard on himself, that’s what I was trying to say. But I love that about him. I mean, it’s that’s how I was. As a goalie, you've got to be demanding on yourself, and Romy does, but I’m not nervous for Romy. I know he’s gonna deliver, and he’s gonna play good hockey, but we need our three pairings playing really good hockey if we want to win hockey games.
When there have been mistakes with Romanov-DeAngelo, what has Roy seen as the biggest issue?
“Maybe turnovers, couple turnovers in that last game. Is it communication? Is it being patient with the puck, making the right decision? But I’m a, we’re always, it’s a game of mistakes. I mean, we’re all gonna make mistakes, so it’s what you do after the mistake. That’s what you care about and I think these guys have been doing a good.”
Isles Lab has a military and first responders discount of 15 percent all season long!
Merchandise
Military jerseys being sold in Isles Lab
Additional items include camo hoodie, custom hoodie, several licensed military hats sold in store
Community
Hockey with a Heart charities – United Heroes League, New Ground, Long Island Warriors
50/50 will go back to the non-profits
Military autographed jersey auction — winner receives two tickets to a game and the jersey
Mystery Military puck fundraiser
Fan Experiences
Four historical military vehicles on the plaza
First 10,000 fans to receive a Military hat co-branded with Ford