Islanders Consider Options After Coaching Change

Just a day after making a significant coaching switch, manager Mathieu Darche is hinting at additional possibilities for the Islanders. Alexander Romanov, who recently removed his non-contact jersey during practice, is in consideration to play in the remaining games of the season. Coach Darche also left the door open for potentially calling up Victor Eklund, who has impressively netted six goals in four games with AHL Bridgeport since his arrival from Sweden.

“We’re considering all options,” Darche commented. “Eklund’s performance in Bridgeport has been notable. He’s putting up points, but there’s more to his game than just scoring. This is his first time adjusting to North America, and I think having faced tough competition at this year’s World Hockey Championship helped ease that transition.”

As for Romanov, Darche expressed optimism, indicating there’s a chance he’ll return for either the last one or two games, which is significant since the playoffs might be on the line. After undergoing shoulder surgery following a hit from Mikko Rantanen in November, Romanov is currently experiencing his first full week of non-contact practice. It’s understandable that getting back into shape may take some time, but, as Darche noted, they’re re-evaluating their options daily.

These last few regular-season games are critical—it’s, well, they really need to win to secure a playoff spot.

“These guys have put in a lot of effort,” said Matthew Schaefer. “You can see just how much he wants to be back on the ice.”

There’s some hesitance regarding calling Eklund up, given his limited AHL experience. Still, he has shown promise in Sweden and has continued to impress since coming to North America. It’s a bit of a gamble, but maybe worth it.

In practice news, Casey Cizikas, Simon Holmstrom, and Ryan Pulock took maintenance days, and Ilya Sorokin also rested. This made predicting line combinations a bit challenging. Even so, it seems Darche has grouped Anders Lee, Bo Horvat, and Anthony Duclair on the top line, while the second line includes Cal Ritchie, Matt Barzal, and Brayden Schenn. Meanwhile, J.G. Pageau configured Max Shabanov and Emil Heinemann on the third. Kyle McClain rounded out a fourth line with Ondrej Palat and Mark Gatcom.

Throughout practice, defense pairs rotated, allowing for some versatility. Semyon Varlamov, who has undergone two knee replacements, participated fully for the first time since November 2024, adding a crucial veteran presence back to the squad.