Islanders’ Alexander Romanov out 5-6 months with shoulder injury
The New York Islanders announced Sunday that defenseman Alexander Romanov will undergo shoulder surgery and will miss the next five-to-six months.
#Isles Injury Update: Alex Romanov is out 5-6 months. He will have shoulder surgery.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 23, 2025The news comes less than a week after Romanov was helped off the ice during their Nov. 18 contest against the Dallas Stars.
The hit came with less than 30 seconds left in the game. With an empty net, the puck went into the corner with Stars’ forward Mikko Rantanen and Romanov chasing after it. Rantanen shoved Romanov in the back, making the Islanders’ defenseman crash into the boards.
Mikko Rantanen received a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for this hit from behind on Alex Romanov 🤕
Romanov needed assistance getting off the ice. pic.twitter.com/LaPPPcMcod
A scrum ensued and Romanov was helped off the ice. Rantanen was given five and a game, and as he left the ice, New York head coach Patrick Roy screamed at the Stars’ forward.
The Islanders won 3-2.
After the game, Roy shared with reporters his frustration with Rantanen.
“When you see the number, you have to lay off, everybody knows that,” Roy told reporters after the game. “You don’t go through the guy … to me, it’s disrespectful. That should not be part of our game.”
Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan had a different take on it when speaking with reporters after the game.
“Everybody’s gonna have their own take, but if you watch the play, I think it’s (Islanders’ defenseman Scott) Mayfield … who actually holds up (Rantanen), and they actually clip skates … Rantanen is off-balance going in there, too,” Gulutzan said.
“If you’ve ever played the game, and you’re off-balance heading in, you usually put your hands out,” he continued. “(I)t’s just one of those hockey players that happen.”
Romanov has one assist in 15 games in 2025-26, averaging 19:27 of ice time. Through six seasons, he has 17 goals and 67 assists for 84 points, averaging 20:08 of ice time in 369 regular-season games with the Islanders and Montreal Canadiens.
He was acquired by New York, along with a fourth-round pick, in exchange for the No. 13 overall pick at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Romanov, who was drafted by the Canadiens in the second round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, spent two seasons with CSKA Moscow in Russia’s KHL. He scored one goal and recorded 10 assists for 11 points in 86 regular-season games.
The Islanders are 12-8-23 with 26 points, which puts them third in the Metropolitan Division. Their next game is Sunday at home against the Seattle Kraken.