Alexander Romanov did not expect to change teams at the beginning of July.
Posted at 11:49
Updated at 4:15 p.m.
The Russian defenseman met the media on Monday after signing a three-year contract with his new team, the New York Islanders. It will earn him, according to several sources, 2.5 million dollars per season.
From the outset, the 22-year-old returned to the trade that made him move from the Canadiens to the Islanders during the National League draft. “I was in shock, honestly,” he let out with a chuckle.
“I didn’t expect this, but I’m happy to be here [à New York] and get ready for the season,” he immediately added.
I’m ready to play, so I’m just waiting for the season!
Alexander Romanov
Recall that Romanov and a fourth-round pick netted a first-round pick, which was then immediately passed on to the Chicago Blackhawks in return for forward Kirby Dach. The two transactions, one after the other, shook the Bell Centre.
The defender made good progress last season, his second in the National League. He was given great responsibilities, first due to the absence of Joel Edmundson, then the trades of Ben Chiarot and Brett Kulak.
Romanov did well under the circumstances, scoring 13 points in 79 games. His usage time increased by 3 minutes compared to the previous season, averaging 20 min 24 s per game. He was also the most employed defender on the penalty kill, in addition to accumulating 227 hits.
He therefore arrives in New York in confidence, he admitted. “I want to improve my game every game,” he said. I’m just going to try to play my best every moment, every second. »
The former Habs also said he was happy to find one of his good friends, Russian goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin.
“He’s one of my best friends right now,” he said. We are so close. We have always kept in touch. We spend whole days at his house together. He’s a good guy, I like playing with him. »
A new duo?
Noah Dobson, former Acadie-Bathurst Titan and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the QMJHL, also signed a new three-year deal with the Islanders, at $4 million per season, on Monday.
Dobson played most of last season with either Zdeno Chara or Andy Greene, who are no longer with the Islanders. So it’s not impossible to see head coach Lane Lambert pair Dobson and Romanov on a second pair.
PHOTO FRANK FRANKLIN II, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Noah Dobson
“We’ve exchanged a few texts here and there, but I haven’t met him in person yet,” Dobson said of his new teammate.
“From what I know of him watching him play, he’s obviously a talented player,” he continued. He skates well and he has a physical presence. […] It would be nice to play together. »
The Islanders’ first-round pick in 2018, Dobson will begin his fourth season on the Bettman circuit in the coming weeks. The young man, also 22, hatched last season, collecting 51 points in 80 games. He was the team’s most-used defender, averaging 21:28 playing time per game.
“I’m happy with the step forward I made in the second half of the season,” he admitted. I want to use that to try to take another step forward this year. I’m just really excited for the next three years. I want to continue to grow and build on last season. »
The defender said he used the long off-season to become “stronger”.
The Islanders had a tougher season in 2021-22, being left out of the playoffs. But “all the players are starving for next season,” assured Dobson.
In another press conference, the team’s general manager, Lou Lamoriello, explained that he would have liked to sign Dobson long-term “at the right price”, but first he must “see more” of him. him. “He must continue to grow as he did” last season, he added.
Note that the Islanders also announced on Monday that they have offered a one-year, $1.2 million extension to forward Kieffer Bellows.