The New York Islanders have reportedly signed UFA forward Casey Cizikas to a 6-year, $15 million contract with a $2.5 million AAV. The report also says the value of the contract can be a little higher. Cizikas is the first of their unrestricted free agents to sign a new contract with the team.
Heard that Casey Cizikas' deal with the #Isles is as @FriedgeHNIC heard last month: Six years at around $2.5 million per.
AAV could be a bit higher, but anything under $3m per is a huge boost for the #Isles and their cap situation. And they have their Identity Line center.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) August 31, 2021
UPDATE: The team has made the deal official, announcing they’ve signed Cizikas to a multi-year deal.
Casey Cizikas Is Back With The Islanders
The Islanders fans have been itching for news and signings since day one of free agency. Now, they apparently got a new one to be excited about. Since the re-signing of Adam Pelech and giving their new prospect, Aatu Raty, his entry-level contract, the island has been very quiet. Signing Cizikas will give their fans a bit to talk about while their other contracts are still in negotiation.
Of course, Cizikas returning is not huge news since there have been reports on it for a while now. But having some sort of confirmation is a relief, especially when reports have also indicated Cizikas had other options. With this contract done, the Islanders have their Identity Line back together and won’t have to worry about their centremen situation anymore.
What Comes Next For The Islanders
With the Cizikas deal finally done and at a reasonable price, the Islanders now have a few more contracts left to sign. They still need to give their RFAs Anthony Beauvillier and Ilya Sorokin new contracts and solve their top-line problem. With Jordan Eberle getting selected by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, the Islanders have to give Mathew Barzal a new right-winger.
Many Isles fans have been requesting a trade for Vladimir Tarasenko, from the St. Louis Blues, but he comes with an injury history and a big cap hit. A solution could be found within the team, with Oliver Wahlstrom heading to his second season. The 21-year-old has shown a lot of potential and getting more minutes can do wonders for him. If the club ends up signing Kyle Palmieri and Zach Parise (like it has been reported), Wahlstrom might end up being the best option.
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