Boston and Philadelphia are monitoring Alexander Romanov as the Islanders weigh their next moves ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The New York Islanders haven’t made pending restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Romanov publicly available. However, the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins are two teams that have inquired about the 25-year-old blueliner, sources told RG.
Romanov’s camp and the Islanders have had initial talks about an extension, as was reported in the post-NHL Draft Combine column for The Elmonters. However, those talks are expected to pick up following the 2025 NHL Draft, at which the Islanders will hold the first overall selection. The Russian native could command between $5 million and $6 million annually on his next deal. He is arbitration-eligible and is likely worth a late first-round pick or an early second-round pick, depending on the team.
The Islanders acquired Romanov from the Montreal Canadiens at the 2022 NHL Draft in exchange for the 13th overall pick. In 221 games for the Islanders over three seasons, Romanov has recorded 64 points (13 goals, 51 assists) with 465 blocks and 502 hits.
Bruins Eyeing Romanov and Dobson as Draft Looms
James Murphy built on the previous report that Boston had inquired about Islanders centerman Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who has one season left on his deal with a cap hit of $5 million. He has a modified no-trade clause but could be on the move. Murphy reported that the Islanders and Bruins have also discussed Boston’s seventh overall pick. Based on mock drafts, it seems that Long Island native James Hagens, who grew up a die-hard Islanders fan, could fall as far as that pick.
While Boston is coming off a brutal season, with superstar David Pastrnak, star defenseman Charlie McAvoy and stud goaltender Jeremy Swayman all signed to long-term deals, there’s no reason to think that general manager Don Sweeney has any interest in a rebuild.
Boston, which has $26.268 million in available cap space, has three unrestricted free agents—forward Cole Koepke and defensemen Parker Wotherspoon and Henri Jokiharju—along with a slew of restricted free agents, one being defenseman Mason Lohrei. A source told RG to keep an eye on the 24-year-old, who is about to enter his third NHL season after Boston selected him in the second round (No. 58) of the 2020 NHL Draft.
If Boston is looking to move up in the draft or upgrade its backend, he could be on the move. As Murphy mentioned, with the Bruins needing help on the right side, fellow Islanders restricted free agent defenseman Noah Dobson is someone Boston has shown interest in, if he becomes available.
Former Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello received calls about Dobson leading up to the 2025 NHL trade deadline, but he was not available. It remains to be seen how new general manager Mathieu Darche feels about Dobson’s game after a shaky 2024–25 campaign, following a career-best 70-point campaign (10 goals, 60 assists) in 2023–24.
Flyers Could Provide Draft-Day Solution
Looking at the Flyers, who will select sixth overall at the upcoming draft, they have some question marks on their backend. Cam York, a left-side defenseman who has played on the right side, is a pending restricted free agent and could be on the move, which would certainly make Romanov an enticing addition, especially given his physicality and gritty style.
Romanov would be an upgrade over Egor Zamula and Nick Seeler, who round out the Flyers’ left side after Travis Sanheim. Maybe one of those two could move over to their off side to balance things out. The Flyers have $18.991 million in available cap space, per PuckPedia, with no pending unrestricted free agents. York and forward Jakob Pelletier are their restricted free agents.
As with Boston, the Flyers’ pick could be an opportunity for the Islanders to move back into the first round to take Hagens if he falls that far. Flyers general manager Danny Briere said Tuesday that he was trying to move up in the draft order, but that doesn’t mean it’s possible.
Romanov is a fantastic player whom the Islanders certainly would love to keep around. Beyond his stats, his energy and ability to change the game with one booming hit are something that stats cannot measure.
However, with Dobson needing to get paid, along with restricted free agent forwards Simon Holmstrom and Maxim Tsyplakov in need of new deals, Darche must figure out how he wants to proceed. The Islanders currently have $20.93 million in available cap space and will have to shed some space if they want to be players for a top-six forward in free agency.
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Stefen Rosner
