Romanov likely to miss rest of season for Islanders with torn ACL

Alexander Romanov will likely miss the rest of the season because of a torn ACL in his right knee, the New York Islanders announced on Wednesday.

The defenseman was injured in the third period and missed the last 12:04 of a 5-2 loss at the New York Rangers on Tuesday. He did not have a point and was plus-2 in three games, averaging 16:34 of ice time.

The Islanders sajd Romanov will be out 6-8 months.

Romanov was just coming back after sustaining a shoulder injury on Nov. 19, 2025, that required surgery and forced him to miss the remainder of last season. He had one assist in 15 games.

A second-round pick (No. 38) by the Montreal Canadiens at the 2018 NHL Draft, Romanov has 84 points (17 goals, 67 assists) in 372 regular-season games with the Canadiens and Islanders, and two points (one goal, one assist) in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Islanders (1-2-0) host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; CHSN, MSGSN).