Injury may delay Alexander Romanov's start to Islanders training camp
Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov celebrates his goal against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 22, 2022. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Offseason shoulder surgery may keep Alexander Romanov off the ice for the start of the Islanders’ training camp next week.
But president/general manager Lou Lamoriello on Monday expressed confidence in the physical defenseman’s recovery.
“He should be,” Lamoriello said when asked if Romanov will be ready for camp. “It’ll be close if he’s not.”
Lamoriello said Romanov is the lone Islander in danger of missing the start of camp. The first on-ice session will be Sept. 21.
Romanov missed seven games — five to end the regular season and the first two games of the Islanders’ six-game playoff loss to the Hurricanes in the first round — after injuring himself against the Lightning on April 1 when he got tangled with Corey Perry.
Even if Romanov misses the start of training camp, every indication is he will be ready for the start of the regular season against the Sabres on Oct. 14 at UBS Arena. The Islanders will play the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 26 to begin the six-game preseason schedule.
“He’s skating,” Lamoriello said. “He’s doing everything. We’ll be as cautious as we possibly can. If it was up to him, he would play with two broken legs.”
PTO for Cates
Lamoriello said center Jackson Cates, who will turn 26 on Sept. 26, will attend training camp on a professional tryout offer after spending the previous three seasons in the Flyers’ organization. Cates, an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota-Duluth, has one goal and one assist in 20 NHL games and compiled 11 goals and 12 assists in 65 games last season for the Flyers’ AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley.
Coaching crew
Lamoriello confirmed that Lane Lambert’s entire coaching staff — assistants Doug Houda and John MacLean, director of goaltending Mitch Korn and goalie coach Piero Greco — will return intact.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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