Islanders' Romanov Talks Lamoriello, Roy, Montreal in Russian Interview – Hockey Writers – New York Islanders

In this translated speech, Alexander Romanov of the New York Islanders talked about working with a video coach, his relationship with general manager (GM) Lou Lamoriello, moving from Montreal to New York, and his head coach Patrick Roy.

You can find the original speech in Russian on the Skolzky Lyod YouTube channel here!

“In the NHL, a lot of people work with a video coach. We all know and understand something about hockey, but there are certain nuances, certain moments in the game that are important only to you. For example, you may not be a technical player, you cannot slide around a five-man unit – you need to pass first or get the puck on the blue line. You're not Cale Makar – you're not going to win over everyone with a flashy move. You need to develop an understanding of what you should do based on your specific skills. And the video coach helps you see from the outside how this can be done: how to do it, how to do it correctly, and how not to do it. That's what working with a video coach is all about.”

The defendant then goes on to explain how it works. “He sends me a clip with a voice in the background. He explains things to me, sends me good times and bad times – mine and other players. Also, I watch my games again to understand where I can improve and what mistakes I shouldn't repeat, for example. Overall, in the NHL, I think about 70 percent of the players work with a video coach. “

About Lou Lamoriello

It looks like Romanov really appreciates his current GM, Lou Lamoriello. “He's just a fictional character. And I don't find him unusual, to be honest. I don't know why everyone says Lou Lamoriello is somehow unusual or too strong.”

And that's despite Romanov having to cut his hair at Lamoriello's request. “The funny thing is, I actually like my current hair better than the one I had with long hair. It was… it was terrible. I look at my old photos, and I don't like them. But here's what really happened: I think my agent, Dan Milstein, warned me right away that I would have to cut my hair. That was the second start after the trade. But to be honest, I don't see how this could be a problem for anyone. It wasn't a problem for me – I just got a haircut.”

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It was not difficult for him to adapt. “He didn't need to explain anything to me. If the general manager, my boss, tells me to do something, I will do it. If he told me to jump off the roof – obviously that would be ridiculous. But if he says I need to cut and trim my hair – it's no problem for me. I don't understand why it's such a big deal to some people, but I couldn't care less.”

In addition, Lamoriello is notoriously demanding. “You must wear a tie,” Romanov continued. “Even after the games. You can't leave the lobby without tying up. Semyon Varlamov once told me that he was yelled at for having a tie on his shoulder after a match. Semyon was on his way to the bus, and Lou approached him, and said, 'Come here, I want to tell you something.' And he commented about the tie: that he should always be well dressed, that he is an example not only on the ice but also on the snow.”

About Playing in Montreal

Romanov began his NHL career in Montreal, before being traded to the Islanders in a three-team trade. “Maybe they won't follow, but I want to thank the fans of the Montreal Canadiens that I never felt like I didn't belong,” said Romanov, adding that he never faced any hate. “Not once, not once. Maybe because I was still a rookie – that played a role. There was never any hatred towards me. Here's how it was. Sometimes I read the comments – and they were always right. If someone was unhappy, it was for a good reason. There was no baseless hatred like, 'You're an idiot because you're an idiot.' But for some reasons – yes. “

For example, if I was dirty in the game, people would call me. Like, 'You screwed up, so you're an idiot.' And in those situations, I knew I was an idiot. I never denied. If I make a mistake, and a goal is scored because of me, I don't go: 'Hey! That's it [Ilya] Sorokin's fault for not doing enough.' I always criticize myself for my game.”

Romanov is still in love with Montreal fans. “Montreal, the fans there is Montreal. Because without the Canadiens, there is nothing else. Not at all. I don't even know where they go in the evening, except to go to the games. Of course, there are good restaurants. I really like Montreal as a city, but they don't have many other types of entertainment. All concerts take place at the Bell Center, where hockey is. They don't have any other big games. I mean, no other band draws a crowd like that. They call this city the 'Mecca of hockey.' In a way, they have carried that spirit from the past to the present. No matter what the game is, the stadium is always packed.”

He was spotted on the streets many times in Montreal. “On Long Island, you're not really needed – not in the way that hockey fans need you, but you're not as popular with local sports fans. Because except for the Islanders, they have them [all New York teams] Rangers, Jets, Giants, Yankees, Knicks, and Nets. It's crazy.”

Romanov Family Ties

Romanov's father Stanislav is a well-known figure in Russia. He is the son-in-law of legendary coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, and competed for Team Russia at the 1995 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship in Sweden. In that tournament, Stanislav scored a goal against Team Canada in the quarterfinals.

“My father has been my main coach my whole life,” Romanov said. “Now, slowly, because there is a strict plan and experts that I have to listen to first. But in the past, he was my main coach: in every camp, we trained together in the summer, in the gym, and always on the ice.”

“Yes, I grew up with a lot of support. There is no need to hide it. I didn't have to put in a lot of effort to succeed. I had everything. But to be honest, a lot of guys – even those who are training now – have a lot, too. They just lack character in some areas, or they don't have enough patience. Sometimes it's, 'Oh, forget about that 6:30 am routine! Why bother walking? Will you give it to me? I'll just get tired,'” explained the defendant.

One of Romanov's biggest weapons is his skating. “My father and I have been skating since we were very young. I thank him because he not only has a lot of knowledge about hockey, but he also dealt with my training in a reasonable way. The first thing a child needs, usually, is skating. Without it, you will get nowhere. You may be inexperienced, you may be a strong player, but if you can swing, if you can move, if you have edges – that's it, you will play.”

Romanov is also known for hitting bones. But he doesn't have much on his mind, apparently. “You have to be a good-minded player to have a good example of physical examination. What kind of role model anyway?” he says. “The problem is, I might not even like the physicals. I don't need them at all. I want to play hockey, score goals – like everyone else on the ice.”

But sometimes, there's a moment when you don't want to let someone admit: 'Why is he slipping in to try to get around me? Have you lost your mind? This is my place – my house, alas. He came in with dirty feet, and chaos remained. What do you think you are doing? If he tries to cut through the middle – of course, goodbye.' Well, in comparison. If you think about it this way, why should any player – even if it is [Connor] McDavid or not – swing free in my place? If I have a chance, I will beat him. End of story.”

About Patrick Roy

Besides Lamoriello, Romanov had kind words for Patrick Roy, too. “He is a winner, a person who has won everything in hockey: four Stanley Cups, a lot of Vezina medals – he collected all possible trophies,” Romanov said of his head coach. “And with the same deep understanding of hockey, he went into coaching. He is truly a relentless person. None of us likes to lose, but he does indeed he hates you. And he is a very smart professional. Some might say, 'Oh, he's just a goalkeeper…' But in this case, his understanding of the game is so high that it doesn't matter. You are amazing. A legend! And a top-level champion who understands the game deeply.”

“You can't just call him a promoter. Our meetings last about 30 minutes – and everything is strategic, everything must be clear. Under him, the team follows strict game discipline – not in terms of 'penalties or no penalties,' but in the sense that everyone should be in their place. If one player receives the puck, the player on the far wing must run into the space; if he doesn't, you know that's it, he's done, he'll be benched. Apart from the heavy lifting, we have a strict game plan to follow – and Roy really wants that. “

Romanov's Method of Getting Ready for Games

“There was a time when I was really excited about the games and I warmed up about three times before the game. I was just on fire. But now I have re-evaluated my preparation, and instead of all this chaos before the game, I collect my thoughts and focus more on what I have to do on the ice, who I am against, and how I have to play better. As I said, my first season is a good example: I was running around recklessly, chasing players. Now my game is much smarter. I play a lot with the scene, making sure my emotions don't get the better of me. Sometimes it's better to just pass the puck.”

Romanov's career has been on the rise, and this season he will be on his one-year contract. The defenseman will have to work hard, and things could get better for him and the Islanders. And it seems that working hard is not a problem for him.