Islanders Mailbag: Romanov’s Future, Lee’s Status & More
Answering your Islanders questions on Alexander Romanov’s future, Anders Lee’s status, free agency plans, roster decisions, and more heading into the offseason.
With the season in the rearview mirror, Free Friday is shifting into offseason mode—with a weekly New York Islanders mailbag where your questions take center stage.
And don’t get it twisted: just because the games have stopped doesn’t mean things are slowing down here.
From exclusive interviews and insider intel to in-depth columns and behind-the-scenes access, The Elmonters isn’t going anywhere—keeping that Islanders pulse alive all summer long.
Before we get to your questions and comments, I wanted to touch on prospect Danny Nelson with his IIHF World Championships coming to an end yesterday following Team USA’s 4-0 loss to Team Canada in the SemiFinals.
Nelson’s role on USA wasn’t a big one, rotating from 13th forward to fourth-line center — he did get one game as the third-line center— playing minimul minutes.
Nelson recorded just one point through seven games played, an assist off an offensive face-off draw win on a Matthew Tkachuk power-play goal in a 4-2 loss to Latvia.
The fact that Nelson, 20, made the team and got minutes says something, especially with head coach Don Granato going back to the Islanders’ prospect in a must-win game after keeping him out of the lineup in the prior game.
I reached out to my friend The Prospect Don to get his thoughts on Nelson:
“I was surprised Danny made the team. He has played in every game accept one, which means they respect his all around game and size. He was noticeable at the WJC. He will be best suited in a 3rd line role. He is someone that can find a niche in the NHL and play a very long time.”
Here’s more:
“Danny Nelson is a big 6’3 versatile Center/Winger that has a heavy shot and a good B game. He will be utilized in a bottom 6 role as a reliable puck carrier and has potential to fit into the middle 6. One of my favorite Islanders prospects because his role he is playing at the WC can be implemented in an NHL lineup. Fans are seeing what Danny Nelson can do and provide winning hockey to any team he is on. He played great and was extremely productive at the WJC, which is one of the reasons he was on the WC roster
Nelson is returning to Notre Dame for his senior season and I’m told there’s no reason to think he won’t sign his entry-level deal with the Islanders before his right expire on Aug. 15, 2027.
Ok, now to the mailbag!
ROSNER: At the same time, getting Schaefer that playoff experience at 18 years old, along with Calum Ritchie and some other youngsters, and taking advantage of a Vezina-caliber season by Ilya Sorokin, was incredibly important. As of right now, any move that Darche made at the deadline is considered a failure, in my opinion, once the Islanders failed to qualify for the playoffs because that was the top priority. We’ll see how the players he acquired, the one(s) that remain play in 2026-27. Maybe they can change the narrative just a bit.
ROSNER: I think the problem with Alexander Romanov is that we’ve gotten a taste of how good he can be, but due to injuries and inconsistencies, along with struggles from his defense partner, has been prevented the 26-year-old blueliner from showing what he’s got for long stretches at a time. We truly don’t know exactly how good he can be if he’s able to stay healthy and play with a consistent partner.
Because, if we are being honest, Romanov was struggling mightily before his season came to an end prematurely. Now he does sustain an injury early on in the season, missing some time before returning, and didn’t look quite right after that.
The hope is that, once healthy, Romanov can rediscover his game from a few years ago, where he can provide that physical presence but can play strongly within Pete DeBoer’s structure while also bringing the offensive touch he has in his arsenal. But, until he is able to prove that or most of that, people are going to question whether it was wise to extend him eight seasons worth $6.25 million annually last summer. To me, it’s on the player to live up to expectations this upcoming season.
ROSNER: I said this a few days ago on X that Darche doesn’t actually have to create cap space to improve the team. Obviously, having more cap flexibility is something every general manager strives for. They do need to create roster spots, which is a great point.
I don’t see any buyouts coming. Yes, the Islanders would save money in the interim. Engvall has four seasons left at $3 million annually, which means his cap hit would be $1 million, giving the Islanders $2 million in cap relief. Duclair has two seasons left at $3.5 million, which means his cap hit would be $1.667 million, giving the Islanders $1.116 million in cap relief. But, unless Darche has a free agent player he absolutely wants to sign to a cap hit greater than the space he’ll have after coming to terms with the pending unrestricted and restricted free agents he’s bringing back, then is it worth the cap penalty for these buyouts?
Engvall’s cap hit penalty for years five through eight is $1 million annually, while Duclair’s through years three and four is $1.667 million annually.
I don’t see Engvall, who I’m told will be healthy and ready for camp after missing the 2025-26 season due to last offseason hip surgery followed by ankle surgery, being moved. If he doesn’t make the Islanders this fall, he can be buried in the AHL. I think we’ll see Duclair moved this summer. I think we’ll see Ondrej Palat, who has one season left at $6 million, on the Islanders’ fourth line this fall.
Following the 2026-27 season, the Islanders will have seven forwards under contract, including those two, as you mentioned at the top. So it’s more about wants rather than needs when it comes to cap space.
Rosner: Semyon Varlamov, who is trying to mount an NHL comeback after double knee procedures, isn’t “handicapping” the Islanders’ ability to get a decent backup netminder. Yes, Varlamov is under contract for one more season at $2.75 million, but, like we saw this past season, he was placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve, which meant not only did his full cap hit comes off the books, but it also created a roster spot for the backup, David Rittich. I could see how a backup goaltender in free agency could look at the Islanders’ situation and think, “Why would I sign with the Islanders as a backup if that job is not safe?” Rittich was coming off a tough season in Los Angeles and took a one year deal worth $1 million as a prove-it deal.
The truth is, the goaltending market is slim and the door isn’t closed on Rittich returning. The team will continue to monitor Varlamov’s situation before making a decision. There’s no way to know if Varlamov will play 20+ games, let alone one, at this time. There’s no question though that the Islanders will be lookign to bring in an insurance policy.
ROSNER: I think it’s very likely that if Lee is brought back, it’s a one or two-year deal. If it’s a one-year deal, I’d think he’d have a modified no-trade clause, likely 16 teams, and if it’s a two-year deal, he’d get full trade protection in year one, followed by a modified no-trade clause in year two.
Kyle Palmieri, who signed a two-year extension last summer, got a full no-trade in year one and has a modified 16-team this upcoming season. If the Islanders do find themselves on the outside looking in come the 2027 NHL Trade Deadline, Palmieri’s name is going to be on every trade board.
I am not expecting the Islanders’ true roster turnover to begin until the summer of 2027, which is when, as stated above, many contracts come off the books.
MATTHEW SCHAEFER COMING TO MATT MARTIN HOCKEY CAMP
Good content, but please proof read before sending. Multiple misspellings and typos take away from your development as a fine young writer.
thank you so much for the insight, this is great, but please, fix the format. it’s tough to read your answers in italics, especially when it’s random words such as “gets healthy”