PuckSleuth
28New York Islanders · Defense · Shoots L
Alexander Romanov
Age 26 · 6'1" · 207 lb · Born in Moscow, RUS
Cap hit
$6.25M
6.0% of $104M cap
Term
7 yrs
Through 2032-33, then UFA
Clause
NTC
Surplus value
−$1.625M
vs. $4.625M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
17:09
PP 0:00 · PK 3:33
xGF%
52.3
5v5, +15.9 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.21
per game
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
+1
Blocks 2 · Hits 2
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 @ TOR · L 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 17:09 | 0:00 | 3:33 | — | 50 | 3 | 1 | +1 | +0.21 |
| Nov 18 @ DAL · W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 20:39 | 0:00 | 1:27 | — | 50 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +0.62 |
| Nov 16 @ COL · L 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 20:03 | 0:00 | 2:46 | — | 67 | 2 | 0 | -1 | +0.19 |
| Nov 14 @ UTA · W 3-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 22:41 | 0:18 | 4:23 | — | 100 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +0.27 |
| Nov 13 @ VGK · W 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 20:37 | 0:00 | 2:47 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.19 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 246 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
0th percentile
0th percentile
1st percentile
5th percentile
1st percentile
5th percentile
2nd percentile
16th percentile
3rd percentile
27th percentile
29th percentile
0th percentile
9th percentile
88th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play stylePhysical forechecking defender
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Romanov is a high-energy defenseman who attacks the puck aggressively and brings elite physicality, but struggles to manage the puck or generate offensive chances. His game centers on winning battles and creating turnovers rather than directing play or threatening the net.
- Shooting volume
- 40
- Playmaking
- 0
- Zone entries(est.)
- 91
- Forechecking
- 81
- Physicality
- 96
- Defensive impact
- 0
- Puck management
- 18
- Speed
- 50
Where he shoots from
Slot 4% · Mid-range 16% · Perimeter 80%(25 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite physicality (96th percentile) sets the tone in all situations
- Exceptional rush chances (91st percentile) show relentless pursuit of loose pucks
- Strong forechecking (81st percentile) forces turnovers in opponent territory
Watch-outs
- Playmaking and defensive impact both minimal, limiting his overall effectiveness
- Puck management (18th percentile) leads to turnovers when under pressure
- Shooting volume and net presence (40th percentile) means little offensive output
Similar style: Elias Pettersson (VAN), Erik Gudbranson (CBJ)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 15 GP
Season total +1.4, or +0.10 per game.
- Scoring
- +0.5
- Shooting
- +1.3
- 5-on-5 goals
- -1.2
- Defense
- -0.8
- Physical play
- +2.2
- Puck battles
- -0.7
- Penalties
- +0.2
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | Montréal Canadiens | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 33.3 | 12:24 | — |
| 2022-23 | New York Islanders | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 17:50 | — |
| 2023-24 | New York Islanders | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.0 | 22:33 | — |
| Career | 3 seasons | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 9.1 | 17:59 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team.
Usage
Last game: @ TOR, Sep 30
Pair 2 with Ryan Pulock (9:39 together at 5-on-5)
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Alexander Romanov admits struggles during long awaited NY Islanders return to action
eyesonisles.com · Sep 26
- Islanders’ Alexander Romanov Ready For First Game Since Shoulder Surgery: ‘It’s An Important Game For Me’
theelmonters.com · Sep 25
- Georgi Romanov proving he could be the goaltending bridge for the Blues
bleedinblue.com · Sep 22
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.13 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 19.5 mph
- 44th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 0
- Hardest shot
- 86.1 mph
- 81st pct
- Distance
- 2.3 mi
- OZ time
- 29.8%
- 0th pct
- DZ time
- 55.5%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 26, defensemen typically produce 98% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 32, when the typical level is 81%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
7 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | NYI | $6.25M | 6.0% |
| 2027-28 | NYI | $6.25M | 5.5% |
| 2028-29 | NYI | $6.25M | — |
| 2029-30 | NYI | $6.25M | — |
| 2030-31 | NYI | $6.25M | — |
| 2031-32 | NYI | $6.25M | — |
| 2032-33 | NYI | $6.25M | — |
UFA after 2032-33. NTC. $43.75M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).