NY Islanders Should Consider Trading Talented Defenseman This Summer

Nick Ziegler | 19 Hours Ago

Feb 26, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; View of a New York Islanders logo on a jersey worn by a member of the team during the third period at Bell Centre. / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With free agency opening up, the New York Islanders are going to be getting set for an important time for the franchise. Coming off a surprise year, the plan for the team is a bit uncertain heading into the summer. 

While it appeared like the Islanders were going to be a team that was rebuilding, a historic rookie season from Matthew Schaefer changed the narrative around the team. New York was in the playoff hunt, and the team might have been a bit too aggressive during the season, trying to improve around a group that likely wasn’t ready yet. 

Now, while there are some bad contracts that the new regime inherited from the previous one, they also made a couple of questionable moves by bringing in players like Brayden Schenn and Ondrej Palat. 

With a cap situation that appears to be far from ideal, improving in free agency is going to be a major challenge for the team. However, they do have one area of strength due to the development of Schaefer that they could look to move some depth from. 

Islanders Should Consider Trading Alexander Romanov

Apr 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Michael Bunting (58) blocks the pass of New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (28) during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Even though he is still just 26 years old and was just recently signed long-term, things have changed on the left side of the blue line for the Islanders. This is now a team that has their star in Schaefer and also Adam Pelech on that side. Pelech has never been a major threat on the offensive end of the ice, and moving to the second-pair behind Schaefer gives them a lot of strength on that side. 

However, as a good young player in his own right, Romanov is better than the third-pair role he would be with the Islanders. Furthermore, while his skills are better, his contract is also indicative that he shouldn’t be on the third pair. 

While the 2025-26 campaign was derailed by an injury, he was able to total 20 points the year prior with four goals and 16 assists. Romanov signed an eight-year, $50 million deal prior to the start of last season and is locked up for a long time. Due to the salary cap increasing, the value on the contract certainly isn’t bad, and he is a solid second-pair player for that number. 

As New York looks to try and create some cap space and get some assets back, Romanov is a logical player that they should try and move.