New York Islanders 2016-2017 Player Grades: Casey Cizikas

Casey Cizikas received a nice payday last offseason, agreeing to a 5 year, $16.75 million contract.  Many people said he was overpaid and he didn’t help prove the doubters wrong after an average 2016-17 campaign that was riddled with injuries.

Usually, there isn’t too much popularity with a team’s fourth line center but in the case of the New York Islanders, theirs does it all.  Casey Cizikas is a sparkplug, who is gritty and hard working, kills penalties and is arguably the team’s second best center behind John Tavares.

To be honest, Cizikas could probably play on the second or third line but he plays that fourth center role too well, alongside his buddy Cal Clutterbuck.

There were high expectations for Cizikas coming into the season.  With the departure of Frans Nielsen, Zeeker was supposed to see an expanded role on the ice.  He also signed a lucrative contract, $3.35M AAV, that fourth liners usually don’t make, or even get offered.

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On top of that, new career highs were set during the 2015-16 campaign in assists (21), points (29),  +/- (+4), and he had 4 GWG as well.

The thought was that Cizikas would be moved up to the third line and center it, but on Opening Night he found himself penciled into his usual fourth line role.  He was also a huge part of the Islanders penalty killing unit that finished 11th in the entire NHL at 81.9%.

Three upper body injuries did cost Zeeker to miss 23 games during the season, with the biggest blow being a broken hand that he suffered in late February.

The Verdict

Cizikas was having a very Cizikas-esque season before going down with injury.  Through 59 games, he posted 25 points, 8 goals and 17 assists, along with 144 hits and a +9 rating.  It’s safe to say that if he would’ve played a full 82 games, he would’ve set career highs in all these categories.

Next: 2017 NHL Draft Profile: Shane Bowers

Not too bad for a guy whose ice time is limited to a fourth line role and the PK.  His final grade would’ve been higher had he not gotten hurt, but that’s something he can work on for next year.

Final Grade: B-