New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov will miss six to eight months after tearing the ACL in his right knee, the team said Wednesday.
Romanov is scheduled for surgery to repair the ligament. The recovery window means he is unlikely to return before the final weeks of the regular season, if at all.
The injury occurred Tuesday night during a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers. Romanov was involved in an awkward collision with Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad in the third period and left the ice.
He did not return for the final 12 minutes and 4 seconds. The Islanders had no immediate update after the game, and further evaluation the next day confirmed the tear.
Through three games this season, the 26-year-old posted a plus-2 rating. His average ice time sat near 16 minutes before the early exit shortened his third outing.
This marks the second straight year a long-term injury has cut short Romanov’s campaign. He appeared in only 15 games last season after a shoulder injury required surgery in November.
That shoulder issue stemmed from a hit by Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen. Romanov spent the rest of the year rehabilitating and returned for training camp this fall after an extended offseason of work.
Counting the three games he played this month, Romanov has suited up for a total of 18 contests since signing an eight-year, $50 million contract in the summer of 2025. The deal carries a $6.25 million annual cap hit.
The Islanders are expected to place him on long-term injured reserve once the surgery is complete. Under current roster rules, only a portion of his salary will count against the cap while he is sidelined.
When available, Romanov has been used as a physical, two-way defender capable of handling top-four minutes. The club acquired him from the Montreal Canadiens on draft night in 2022.
In his most recent full season, 2024-25, he recorded four goals and 20 points in 64 games. Career totals stand at 17 goals and 84 points across 372 games with Montreal and New York.
The Islanders’ regular season is scheduled to end April 10. A recovery on the shorter end of the six-to-eight-month range could allow Romanov to rejoin the lineup only if the team reaches the postseason.
Coach Pete DeBoer will need to adjust the blue line in the meantime. Options include shifting Matthew Schaefer to his natural left side or elevating depth options such as Scott Mayfield or Matt Kessel.
The loss removes a defenseman the organization viewed as a longer-term piece when it committed to the multiyear extension. No trade discussions involving Romanov have surfaced.
