Islanders’ Romanov out for 6 months with injury: Impact and Reactions

Alexander Romanov, Islanders Defenseman, Out with Injury

New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov will be out of action for between five and six months due to surgery on his right shoulder, the team announced on Sunday. Romanov’s injury, 25, occurred Tuesday in Dallas during the last minute of regulation. He was hit from behind by Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen. Romanov, who needed help getting off the ice, was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday. So far this season, he has one assist in 15 games. Last summer he signed an eight-year, $50 million contract.

He is not happy.

Patrick Roy, Islanders Coach

Islanders coach Patrick Roy commented that the team will have to move forward. “We can’t replace a player like him,” he added.

Roy indicated that the team will rely on Adam Boqvist and Marshall Warren to fill in for Romanov’s absence. The Islanders won six of seven games on their recent trip before losing 2-1 against St. Louis at home on Saturday. “We hope the players who come in fit in and that Boqvist plays as he has been doing,” Roy said about his defense corps, which has been bolstered by 18-year-old rookie Matthew Schaefer. Rantanen received a five-minute major penalty for roughing and a misconduct penalty in the game, but received no further suspension from the league for the hit on Romanov. Previously, on Sunday, he was suspended for one game after a hit on Calgary’s Matt Caronato during Saturday’s game. Roy was furious after Rantanen’s hit on Romanov and yelled at the Dallas player as he headed to the locker room through a tunnel between the benches. Stars coach Glen Gulutzan defended his player because he believed Rantanen’s skate was hit by Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield, causing him to raise his arms to maintain balance just before contact with Romanov. Rantanen stated that he had no intention of injuring Romanov. This is his first full season with Dallas after being traded twice last season.