Andrew Gross: Islanders lose Alexander Romanov for season with injury, depth will be tested early
The Islanders' Alexander Romanov during the second period against the Rangers on Oct. 6, 2026. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
Injuries are a fact of life in the NHL and it was inevitable the Islanders’ depth would be tested at some point.
But three games in, the team is facing an extremely huge test with Wednesday’s news that Alexander Romanov will essentially miss a second full season, this time with a knee injury that will keep him sidelined six to eight months. The physical defenseman’s ability to contribute in the future must also be questioned given this propensity for long-term injuries.
It’s both hard luck and a trend. And, considering Romanov is in the second season of an eight-year, $50 million deal and managed to stay healthy for just 18 games under the extension, a terrible sign for the rest of his career.
“You really feel for him,” coach Pete DeBoer said after Wednesday’s optional practice at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow but before the severity of Romanov’s injury was announced.
It overshadowed the positive news of the day that top-six forward Mathew Barzal is expected to resume skating on Thursday as the start of his season was delayed because of inflammation in his left knee.
Romanov will require surgery to repair an ACL tear after shoulder surgery ended his previous season. This time, he collided with Mika Zibanejad and was injured in the third period of the Islanders’ 5-2 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, just their third game of the season.
The Islanders host Chicago on Thursday night and must decide how to reconfigure their defense corps. We’ll delve into that shortly.
But the best case for Romanov — the sixth-month timeline — is a return on or about April 7. The regular season ends three days later.
Last season, Romanov played just 15 games before wrecking his shoulder on a hit from Mikko Rantanen in Dallas on Nov. 19, 2025. Romanov said he would have been able to return in the playoffs had the Islanders qualified.
Romanov, 26, is in the second season of an eight-year, $50 million deal. The contract carries a full, no-trade clause that activates on July 1. He certainly will not be an attractive trade target if he plays only 18 games in two seasons.
That is a huge problem facing general manager Mathieu Darche, who signed Romanov to an extension three days after trading Noah Dobson to the Canadiens.
The simplest, in-roster move would be to move left-handed shooting Matthew Schaefer back to his natural side — he’s been playing on the right paired with lefty Adam Pelech — and right-handed Scott Mayfield or Matt Kessel into the lineup after both have been healthy scratches the first three games.
The projected left-handed/right-handed pairs then could be Schaefer-Ryan Pulock, Pelech-Tony DeAngelo, Logan Stanley-Mayfield/Kessel.
“It’s the NHL, right?” Darche said on Sept. 30 before the season opened. “There’s always someone trying to push for a job. Maysie is a true pro. He’s going to work. When he gets his opportunity, we’ll be very comfortable to have him in. Things change quick in the NHL.”
Surely, Darche hoped he wouldn’t be that prescient.
He also has options with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Hamilton, Ontario.
Ethan Bear is a right-handed shot with 275 games of NHL experience. Kessel has 99 games of NHL experience and the expectation was he would be removed from the roster once Barzal is ready. As Darche said, “things change quick.”
If the priority is to keep Schaefer on his off-side in order to preserve the Pelech-Schaefer top pairing, left-handed shots Marshall Warren of Laurel Hollow has proven he can fill in at the NHL level, though he’s not likely a long-term roster solution.
And then there are left-handers Isaiah George, 22, and Kashawn Aitcheson, 20.
The roster spot was there for George’s taking through training camp. He did not take it but still is considered a viable prospect.
Aitcheson, the 17th overall pick in 2025, was impressive but still very raw as he’s in his first professional season. The prudent move is to allow him to develop in the AHL without rushing him. But his physical play would emulate — and possibly surpass — the bangs the Islanders often got from Romanov.
Whoever the next man up will ultimately be — and it could well be an option from outside the organization — this is the test of depth the Islanders knew they would face at some point.
It’s just terrible news for Romanov and the Islanders it came this soon.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
