Islanders get strength and speed with selections of Daniil Prokhorov and Luca Romano
Daniil Prokhorov poses after being drafted by the Islanders with the 42nd overall pick during the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Peacock Theater on Saturday in Los Angeles. Credit: Getty Images/Matt Winkelmeyer
LOS ANGELES — Size and speed are two of the NHL’s key elements.
The Islanders certainly got plenty of the former in selecting Russian wing Daniil Prokhorov in the second round of the NHL Draft on Saturday at the Peacock Theater. They got an abundance of the latter when they picked OHL center Luca Romano in the next round.
Whether that ever translates to the NHL is in the hands of how they are developed. That process will start at the Islanders’ summer prospect development camp on Monday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
The hulking Prokhorov, who stands 6-5 and is 209 pounds, is an extremely raw talent with a blistering shot to go with his NHL-size body.
“Daniil, the big Russian goal-scorer, he hits like a tank,” Islanders general manager and executive vice president Mathieu Darche said.
Through an interpreter, Prokhorov said he is “thankful” the Islanders picked him and appreciates the trust the organization showed in him.
“I’m always motivated to shoot, to attack from close to the net,” Prokhorov said. “As far as an NHL shot caliber, I’m looking to get stronger. I do have a pretty heavy shot and I’m looking to improve it.”
He scored 20 goals in 43 games last season in Russia’s minor league.
Whenever he is ready to come to North America to play hockey, Prokhorov said he is happy the Islanders already have four Russians with goalies Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov, defenseman Alexander Romanov and wing Maxim Tsyplakov, though the latter two are restricted free agents.
“I like it very much that there’s a strong Russian presence,” Prokhorov said. “It’s always helpful for a young guy to come in and get some veteran — and especially Russian — influence.”
The 5-11, 177-pound Romano’s best attribute is his elite skating speed.
“I think I have a really underrated shot,” said Romano, who fielded a congratulatory phone call from a fellow speedster, Islanders top-liner Mathew Barzal, shortly after being picked. “I think I’m good at pulling pucks through the defense or opening a lane to get the puck through and I can get [a shot] off quick and hard and accurate.”
His offensive-minded game led to 25 goals and 26 assists in 67 OHL games.
“I want guys that can skate, that’s for sure,” Darche said. “I’ve been saying from the start, I want us to play with pace. But when you look at the playoffs, how you win, you need size also. You need some of that truculence.”
Romano will be able to reacquaint himself with defenseman Matthew Schaefer, selected first overall by the Islanders on Friday, at development camp. The two were roommates during an under-18 tournament.
“He’s a great kid, a great leader, really energetic, a great guy to be around,” Romano said. “I really enjoyed my time rooming with him and hanging out with him.”
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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