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Casey Cizikas poised to hit major milestone after NY Islanders teammates fell short

ByJiggs Westfall
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Oct 18, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; New York Islanders center Casey Cizikas (53) skates in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
Oct 18, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; New York Islanders center Casey Cizikas (53) skates in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Casey Cizikas is approaching a milestone that several of his longtime New York Islanders teammates came close to reaching with the organization.

Cizikas will enter his 16th NHL season with 978 career games, all with the Islanders. He needs 22 more to reach 1,000 and, barring injury or a lineup change, could get there early this season.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it, but it's not my main focus," Cizikas told WFAN.com. "It's definitely a milestone that I'll be extremely proud of when I get there."

Josh Bailey reached 1,000 games while playing for the Islanders in 2022, but two other longtime members of the team's recent core did not.

Brock Nelson was traded to the Colorado Avalanche before reaching the milestone and played his 1,000th NHL game as a member of the Avalanche.

Former Islanders captain Anders Lee entered free agency this summer with 923 career games, all with New York. General manager Mathieu Darche offered Lee a one-year contract that could have given him an opportunity to reach 1,000 games with the Islanders, but Lee signed a three-year deal with the Utah Mammoth.

Cizikas now has an opportunity to reach the milestone without playing for another organization.

If he appears in each of New York's first 22 games, Cizikas would play his 1,000th on Nov. 21 against the Detroit Red Wings.

He isn't looking that far ahead.

"Twenty-two games is still a long way away," Cizikas said. "You have to prove yourself every single night in this league to earn a spot on the roster."

Cizikas has been one of the Islanders' longest-tenured players and spent much of his career centering the "Identity Line" with Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck.

Reaching 1,000 games would provide another marker of that longevity.

For now, Cizikas said his focus remains on helping the Islanders win.

The milestone, if everything goes according to plan, will come soon enough.

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