Since joining the Islanders, Alexander Romanov has established himself as a reliable defenseman.

Although he has only played eight games this season due to injuries, he is known for his defensive play and his 22 annual points during his first two seasons with the Islanders.

As his three-year contract expires this summer, he will become a restricted free agent (RFA) on July 1.

According to journalist James Mirtle of The Athletic, Romanov is one of the players likely to receive an offer sheet, even described as a “rising star.”

An offer sheet for Alexander Romanov?

Such an offer could provide Romanov with an annual salary between $4.81 and $7.2 million.

If a team decided to make him such an offer and the Islanders did not match it, they would receive a first-round and a third-round pick as compensation.

This situation opens a debate for the Islanders, keep Romanov, who is essential to their top-four defense, or accept an offer and regain draft picks.

They had sacrificed a first-round pick (13th overall) and a fourth-round pick in 2022 to acquire Romanov, while the Canadiens turned those picks into Kirby Dach.

Lou Lamoriello will therefore have to choose the option of paying the price, given the difficulty of finding such a versatile defenseman on the market.

This will be a name to watch, but if an offer sheet truly becomes a possibility for Romanov, it will be interesting to see if it could catch the attention of Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens, who are looking for exactly this type of player.