A New Contract and New Beginnings
Isles sign Romamov to eight-year extension; development camp opens
Good Morning, Islanders Country.
The news cycle hasn’t slowed down, and free agency starts today.
After trading Noah Dobson, the path was clear for GM Mathieu Darche to extend Alexander Romanov, the hard-hitting, charismatic defenseman with upside—and that’s exactly what he did. On Monday, Romanov signed an eight-year contract with an annual AAV of $6.25M, making Romanov the highest-paid defenseman on the roster. That’s what a rising salary cap will do for you.
These two contracts (Dobson at $9.5M) and Romanov will be closely linked, and they will likely be compared over time, though you’ll have to consider the market and return for Dobson compared to what it would have been with Romanov and the organization’s belief in their suddenly plentiful young depth on defense.
Acquired before the start of the 2022-23 season, Romanov brings physicality, speed, and puck-moving ability. He’s the kind of two-way defenseman fans love, and his highlight-reel hits and amusing comments to the media show that he’s not just another player—he’s a character people rally around.
But now, the rubber meets the road. With his new salary comes responsibility. Romanov has to justify that top-dollar deal with consistent play night in and night out. Fans expect him to lead by example, stay healthy, and elevate the team.
Here is the breakdown of his trade protection for the next eight years:
2025-26: None
2026-27, 27-28, 28-29: NMC
29-30, 30-31, 31-32, 32-233: M-NMC (16-team no trade)
Romanov has already ensured that fans and media are engaged. Now it's time for him to back it up on the ice. If he delivers—and thrives under the spotlight—there’s no doubt Romanov can cement his place as the backbone of Islander defense. And if not? Well, that contract will look really expensive and really long.
Let’s dive in.
📰 NEWS: The first day of the Islanders’ development camp was on Monday, serving as an opportunity for the most recent draft picks and other prospects in the pipeline to skate in front of the coaches, development staff, and fans at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
All eyes remained on the 1st overall pick, Matthew Schaefer, who, after a few whirlwind days before, during, and after the 2025 NHL Draft, is already shifting his focus to the next chapter: putting in the work.
“You dream of this your whole life, and it's a dream come true, and now you have to put the work boots on,” Schaefer said. “Getting drafted is amazing, and first overall is amazing, and it's an honor, but you forget about that now. Everyone's equal, and everyone's out there fighting for a spot, so all you have to do is put your head down, have fun, and work as hard as you can.”
Since being selected first overall on Friday, the 17-year-old defenseman has flown on a private jet with fellow picks Kashawn Aitcheson and Victor Eklund, appeared on Good Morning America, and received congratulatory messages from names like Barzal, Horvat, Anders Lee, Wayne Gretzky, and Connor McDavid. Not bad for a weekend. And this week is off to an equally busy start.
No Qualifying Offers For You
Teams had until 5 PM on Monday to send qualifying offers to their restricted free agents, and three players, all defensemen: Samuel Bolduc, Aidan Fulp, and Scott Perunovich, went without an offer, meaning they’ll become UFAs later today.
Bolduc, a 2019 second-round pick, began his career with promise, appearing in 52 NHL games and recording eight points (four goals, four assists). However, the 24-year-old quickly fell out of favor under Patrick Roy.
Fulp, 25, has been a depth piece since joining the organization as an undrafted free agent. He played in just 31 games for Bridgeport last season, notching six assists, and has yet to make his NHL debut.
Perunovich, acquired from St. Louis for what turned out to be nothing (the fifth-round pick was conditional), managed nine points in 35 games. But after a tough outing against the Rangers on Feb. 25, he was scratched for the remainder of the season until the final two games. Once considered a high-ceiling puck mover, the 2020 Hobey Baker winner is now at a crossroads.
Moving on up? North?
According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Bridgeport Islanders, AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, are expected to relocate to Hamilton, Ontario, for the 2026–27 season. The move isn’t yet official, but Seravalli reports that the deal is progressing toward completion. The team would play at the renovated TD Coliseum, which has undergone a major facelift over the last year.
For the Islanders, the move makes sense. Bridgeport has consistently struggled with attendance, finishing 28th in the AHL last season with just 3,665 fans per game, despite modest year-over-year growth. A relocation to Hamilton could breathe new life into the Isles’ development system, putting their prospects in a stronger hockey market, closer to scouting resources, and in a rejuvenated facility
🎥 ISLES REWIND: On July 1st, 2023, the Islanders signed goaltender Ilya Sorokin to an eight-year extension that started during the 2024-25 season. But that wasn’t all. GM Lou Lamoriello handed out a few very long contracts that day, signing forward Pierre Engvall and defenseman Scott Mayfield to both receive seven-year extensions. Engvall's contract counts $3 million against the cap, while Mayfield's counts $3.5 million. 35-year-old goalie Semyon Varlamov got a four-year deal with a $2.75 million AAV.
🔗 Calum Ritchie hopes a spot on the Islanders this season is in the bag by Peter Schwartz, WFAN.com “It’s been awesome,” said Ritchie of the start of development camp. “I’ve been looking forward to this moment every since I got traded to come in here, get to skate and meet everyone in the organization so it’s been good.”
🔗 Eklund is Thrilled to Arrive on Long Island, Reunite with Odelius by Rachel Luscher, NewYorkIslanders.com “The Swedes played together in Djurgårdens and now they’re reunited in the same NHL organization, which is something they’d both hoped for during summer skates and workouts. They see plenty of each other back home, as Eklund hails from Stockholm, which is about 30 minutes away from where Odelius lives in Nykvarn.”
And we leave you with this…ICYMI, Matthew Schaefer on GMA
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