NEW YORK — The New York Islanders will be without defenceman Alexander Romanov for most of the 2026-27 season after he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee, the club announced on Wednesday. The injury, which will sideline the 26-year-old for six to eight months, was sustained in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers.
The incident occurred midway through the third period when Romanov collided awkwardly with Rangers centre Mika Zibanejad. The Islanders confirmed the diagnosis and the lengthy timeline on Wednesday, ruling the blueliner out for the bulk of the campaign.
Romanov had featured in all three of the Islanders' games this season, going without a point but posting a plus-2 rating while averaging 16:34 of ice time. The Moscow native is coming off an injury-shortened 2025-26 season after suffering a major shoulder injury last November that forced him to miss the remainder of the year.
Across 372 career games over seven seasons split between the Islanders and Montreal Canadiens, Romanov has registered 17 goals and 67 assists. His absence leaves a significant hole on the Islanders' defence as they navigate the opening months of the season without one of their regulars.