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Islanders Casey Cizikas signed to 6 year contract (Rumor)

By Michel Anderson

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 16: Casey Cizikas #53 of the New York Islanders reacts during the second period in Game One of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 16, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 16: Casey Cizikas #53 of the New York Islanders reacts during the second period in Game One of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 16, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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Lou Lamoriello is taking the time he has to dot every “i” and cross every “t” before officially announcing anything that the New York Islanders have done this offseason.

It’s all quiet on the Islanders UFA front which leads many to believe they’re all signed but the paperwork hasn’t been filed with the NHL’s central registry. That includes Casey Cizikas. Today, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported a rumor that Cizikas could be signed to a long-term deal with a low AAV.

Update on negotiations with New York Islanders Casey Cizikas

On Friedman’s 31 thought’s podcast, he indicated the following about why the Islanders haven’t announced anything and what’s going on with Casey Cizikas:

Now that is obviously a long deal. Six years for a fourth-line center isn’t something you see every day. But Cizikas isn’t just any fourth-line center. He’s arguably the best fourth-line center in the NHL. Heck, he’d likely be a good third-line center on just about any team in the NHL.

Cizikas is the beating heart of this Islanders squad. Keeping him is a must. But the Islanders have to do so while juggling the salary cap. A six-year deal could allow them to do so.

Keeping Casey Cizikas was one of Lou’s priorities in the offseason. Speaking prior to the expansion draft, Lamoriello indicated he would do everything possible to bring him back:

"“There’s no question what Casey Cizikas has brought to the team. We will do everything we possibly can to try and have him come back,”"

Getting Cizikas at a rumored $2.5 million AAV wouldn’t create any extra room on the Isles current $17.67 million cap space, but it would represent about $1 million in savings from Cizikas’s last deal ($3.35 million AAV).

It wouldn’t surprise anyone to think that Lou could get Cizikas to take less in order to stay on the Island. Last year the Isles signed Matt Martin to a four-year deal with a $1.5 million AAV, that’s a $1 million savings on the cap from his previous deal.

We’ll have to wait and see if this rumor is true or not. But if it does turn out to be true that would be a huge win for the Islanders.

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