Casey Cizikas

[mw147]

At 32 we've already extracted the best years of his career at a team friendly price. No need to pay him 5 or 6 million a year on the downside of his career. You can't just slot him down to 3rd line because you are now paying Cizikas as the 3rd line center.

Stamkos and Lucic and let Nielsen and Okposo walk. Snow will know pretty much right after the draft if he is in the running for them and if he's not he can always turn his attention back to Nielsen.

Yeah, they can legally be in contact with UFAs on June 25. Plus we will see what moves have happened at the draft. He should have a pretty good idea what is going on before July 1 and can adjust accordingly.

[mw147]

http://nypost.com/2016/06/02/islanders-16-75m-deal-for-casey-cizikas-is-also-insurance/

Islanders’ $16.75M deal for Casey Cizikas is also insurance

How much is a fourth-line center worth? According to Islanders general manager Garth Snow, about $3.35 million per year.

At least that’s what Snow gave Casey Cizikas, inking the 25-year-old restricted free agent Thursday to a five-year, $16.75 million deal. With the pending unrestricted free agency of key second-line center Frans Niesen, Cizikas is also insurance down the middle.

The contract buys up two years of Cizikas’ unrestricted free agency. Yet the team’s fourth-round pick (No. 92 overall) from the 2009 draft never has accrued more than the 30 points he had this season or the nine goals he had in 2014-15.

30 points, a year that would get Bailey fans celebrating. And he doesn't win faceoffs or kill penalties.

[mw147]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/casey-cizikas-signs-five-year-extension-with-islanders-1.11869573

Casey Cizikas signs five-year, $16.75M extension with Islanders

The Islanders locked up one of their own free agents Thursday, signing Casey Cizikas to a five-year deal worth $16.75 million. The $3.35-million average annual value is a big raise for the 25-year-old center, who had a career-high 30 points this season while earning $1.2 million.

The raise for Cizikas, who was a key part of the Islanders’ top-five penalty-killing unit and the center for the nominal fourth line with Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, also is an indication that the Islanders might be ready to part with their pending unrestricted free agents.

[Dom]

http://nypost.com/2016/06/02/islande...lso-insurance/





30 points, a year that would get Bailey fans celebrating. And he doesn't win faceoffs or kill penalties.

He says we bought two years of UFA, while Staple says 3. I believe Staple in this case, because Brett Cyrgalis is the worst.

[FranzyFan]

He says we bought two years of UFA, while Staple says 3. I believe Staple in this case, because Brett Cyrgalis is the worst.

Staple is correct because Casey becomes unrestricted when he turns 27 at the latest and he will do that prior to July 1, 2018.

[mw147]

Staple is correct because Casey becomes unrestricted when he turns 27 at the latest and he will do that prior to July 1, 2018.

Frame the bold and cast it in bronze!!!

[gazaroog]

He's not playing 4th line next year, nor is Clutterbuck, I bet.

Most likely, Quine slots in as 4th line C next year, and I'm ok with that.

But now your 3rd line is compromised as is your 4th line. We would be moving up guys into roles they weren't made for while watering down our offense.

[Dom]

But now your 3rd line is compromised as is your 4th line. We would be moving up guys into roles they weren't made for while watering down our offense.

I don't think so, but I guess we'll see how it shakes out. They've already been doing the job, since our 4th line last year was actually more like our 3rd line anyway.

Our 3rd line next year could be:

Kulemin - Cizikas - Clutterbuck

Personally, I really like that.

Besides, we don't really have a choice. You have to plug in cheaper guys on the 4th line, so as to be able to afford high end guys to flank JT on the top line.

[mw147]

I don't think so, but I guess we'll see how it shakes out. They've already been doing the job, since our 4th line last year was actually more like our 3rd line anyway.

Our 3rd line next year could be:

Kulemin - Cizikas - Clutterbuck

Personally, I really like that.

Besides, we don't really have a choice. You have to plug in cheaper guys on the 4th line, so as to be able to afford high end guys to flank JT on the top line.

In this league you cannot have a 4th line of guys all making north of $2 million. Certainly not 2 of them averaging about $3 million each. We were spoiled these past 2 seasons. We also could not give JT the help he needs. Hopefully that all changes now.

The nice thing about guys like Quine and Prince on the 4th line is that they can swing up higher in a pinch.

We still need to address the top 2 lines. Right now we have JT, Strome, Lee, Nelson, Bailey, maybe Grabo. and possible Barzal. That is not going to cut it.

[gazaroog]

I don't think so, but I guess we'll see how it shakes out. They've already been doing the job, since our 4th line last year was actually more like our 3rd line anyway.

Our 3rd line next year could be:

Kulemin - Cizikas - Clutterbuck

Personally, I really like that.

Besides, we don't really have a choice. You have to plug in cheaper guys on the 4th line, so as to be able to afford high end guys to flank JT on the top line.

Oh I totally agree that our 4th line was a luxury and would be hard to keep together. But what made them so effective was that they wore down their opponents and our new 4th line won't be doing that. The net effect is that the team's offense will be less impactful.

Also, putting Prince on a 4th line is like putting Tambellini on the 4th. His type of play won't fit that role.

Again, I hate to be pessmistic, but I just don't like where I see things headed.

[Dom]

Oh I totally agree that our 4th line was a luxury and would be hard to keep together. But what made them so effective was that they wore down their opponents and our new 4th line won't be doing that. The net effect is that the team's offense will be less impactful.

Also, putting Prince on a 4th line is like putting Tambellini on the 4th. His type of play won't fit that role.

Again, I hate to be pessmistic, but I just don't like where I see things headed.

But if our 1st line next year is high end, and if our 2nd (kid) line simply does what they've done in the past, then our 4th line being weaker won't matter.

As for Prince, I think he's more willing to stick his nose in there than Tambellini, but anyway I only expect Prince to be battling for the 12th or 13th forward spot.

[gazaroog]

But if our 1st line next year is high end, and if our 2nd (kid) line simply does what they've done in the past, then our 4th line being weaker won't matter.

As for Prince, I think he's more willing to stick his nose in there than Tambellini, but anyway I only expect Prince to be battling for the 12th or 13th forward spot.

If we stuck with the lineup we have now, we still need an upgrade for the top line. Now factor in losing your 4th lines identity, losing Okposo. I just don't see how we are replacing this production.

I I hope im wrong but I have a really bad feeling where we are headed.

This team didn't need much more.

[Tjay]

If we stuck with the lineup we have now, we still need an upgrade for the top line. Now factor in losing your 4th lines identity, losing Okposo. I just don't see how we are replacing this production.

I I hope im wrong but I have a really bad feeling where we are headed.

This team didn't need much more.

I'm hoping we can add quality with a draft day deal. You always get a much higher return trading at the draft than you would at the trade deadline.

[Jethro]

If we stuck with the lineup we have now, we still need an upgrade for the top line. Now factor in losing your 4th lines identity, losing Okposo. I just don't see how we are replacing this production.

I I hope im wrong but I have a really bad feeling where we are headed.

This team didn't need much more.

Stamkos and Lucic. I know they aren't normally the type you lock away in the dungeon but they will work just fine for us.

[gazaroog]

Stamkos and Lucic. I know they aren't normally the type you lock away in the dungeon but they will work just fine for us.

You need a blue chip icon or alike.

Seriously though, I know better than to have those types of expectations.