"It's not just that Romanov has underachieved; it's that he looks completely out of sorts. His reads have been off, his gaps have been inconsistent, and the confidence he displayed last season seems to have evaporated. Advanced analytics paint an even harsher picture, placing him among the worst defensemen in the league in several key metrics, including expected goals against, high-danger chances allowed, and defensive-zone turnovers."
"On paper, Romanov should be entering his prime. At 25 years old and fresh off signing an eight-year extension this summer, the Islanders invested in what they believed he would become: a hard-hitting, defensively reliable, top-four cornerstone. Instead, through the first stretch of the season, he has looked nothing like that player. what the hell romanov pic.twitter.com/xtlDwxcoUx- JFresh (@JFreshHockey) November 17, 2025"
The New York Islanders began the season well, but Alexander Romanov has struggled markedly. Romanov is 25 and signed an eight-year extension, with expectations to be a hard-hitting, defensively reliable top-four defenseman. He has appeared out of sorts, showing poor reads, inconsistent gaps, and diminished confidence. Advanced metrics place him among the league’s worst defensemen in expected goals against, high-danger chances allowed, and defensive-zone turnovers. The pairing with Tony DeAngelo coincided with a sharp decline in results, and Romanov has also missed time while adjusting to new coaching systems and managing physical durability concerns. There remains time for recovery.
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