We were all confounded when Alexander Romanov’s name was announced over the speakers of the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on June 23, 2018. It was the second time in as many days that some Montreal Canadiens fans were disappointed by draft decisions.
The perception of the Romanov pick changed when the first KHL game of the season was played. Romanov made the CSKA roster, and while only getting to play sporadically in the beginning, it was evident that Coach Nikitin was slowly introducing the 18-year-old defenceman to the second-best league in the world to aid his development.