Alexander Romanov sidelined 6–8 months in major Islanders setback

The New York Islanders will be without defenceman Alexander Romanov for most of the season after he suffered a serious knee injury. The team announced Wednesday that the 26-year-old has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight months.

Romanov is scheduled to undergo surgery following the injury, which occurred Tuesday night in a 5–2 loss to the New York Rangers in East Meadow. He became tangled up with Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad in the third period and did not play over the final 12 minutes of the game.

Second straight season disrupted by injury

This torn ACL marks a second consecutive season cut short by a major injury for Romanov. Last year, he missed the final five months of the campaign with a shoulder injury suffered in November on a hit involving Mikko Rantanen of the Dallas Stars.

Including the three games the Islanders have already played this fall, Romanov has appeared in only 18 contests since signing an eight-year, US$50 million contract with New York in the summer of 2025. His extended absences have limited the impact the club hoped to receive from that long-term commitment.

Islanders face blue-line reshuffle

Romanov’s long-term loss forces the Islanders to rethink their defence pairings for virtually the entire season. Known for his physical play and edge, he had carved out a significant role in the team’s top four and was regularly used in key defensive situations, including the penalty kill.

With no clear timeline beyond the six- to eight-month estimate, management and the coaching staff will likely need to rely on internal depth or explore call-ups and potential roster moves to cover the gap. The recovery and rehabilitation process for a torn ACL typically extends well beyond the surgery itself, making it uncertain when Romanov will be ready to resume full game action.

For now, the Islanders must plan ahead assuming Romanov will not be available for the bulk of the schedule, and possibly not until next season, leaving a significant hole on their blue line both in the short and medium term.