The New York Islanders have signed defenseman Alexander Romanov to a three-year contract extension.
The New York Islanders have finally signed a free agent! Even if it's one they already owned the rights to.
After spending the summer being entirely inactive on the free agent market, the Islanders finally made a move of their own on Monday morning, agreeing to terms with defenseman Alexander Romanov on a three-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $2.5 million.
The details of the deal, which now ties Romanov to Long Island through the 2024-25 season, such as its salary structure or the inclusion of any trade protection have yet to be determined.
Originally drafted with the 38th pick by the Montreal Canadiens back in 2018, Romanov was ultimately dealt to the Islanders on draft day back in July, coincidentally coming in the city in which he spent the first two seasons of his NHL career.
It's been a rocky start to Romanov's tenure at hockey's highest level, of course.
The 22-year-old has racked up just four goals and 15 assists for 19 points in 133 total games thus far, bouncing in and out of the Canadiens' lineup as a healthy scratch during the club's miracle run to the Stanley Cup final back in 2021 before struggling as a member of Montreal's talent-stripped roster this past season en route to a last-place finish.
Despite his initial stumbles, however, Romanov still has the potential to develop into a useful blueliner.
The Moscow native is young and physically gifted, having shown flashes of the skill that made him such a highly touted KHL import prior to his arrival in North America. With Barry Trotz no longer behind the Islanders' bench, it's unclear as to how much the team's defensively-focused system will change entering next season. But the club has a reputation for getting the most out of its defenders in recent years, and that could be precisely the guidance Romanov needs to take the next step.
At an annual price tag of $2.5 million, there are far worse gambles to be made.