The New York Islanders and Casey Cizikas have agreed to terms on a five-year contract extension, the club announced Thursday.
And, based on the reports, it represents a significant raise for the 25-year-old forward. As per Arthur Staple of Newsday, the deal is worth $16.75 million.
According to General Fanager, Cizikas had just concluded his two-year deal worth $2 million -- including $1.2 million this season -- and was a pending restricted free agent. For more details on this latest contract, click here.
It's steep for sure. #Isles bought 3 years of UFA, so it was going over $2M per at that length. Also tells me Martin is definitely gone...
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) June 2, 2016
“Casey has developed into a highly dependable two-way center and we’re pleased to sign him through 2021,” said Islanders GM Garth Snow in a statement. “His energy and passion both on the ice and in the community, make him an invaluable piece of our lineup.”
In 80 regular season games in 2015-16, Cizikas scored eight goals but reached career highs in assists with 21 and points with 29, as part of a fourth line with Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck.
The Islanders also have a trio of pending unrestricted free agents, including Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen and Martin.
Okposo could be in line for a major raise after 22 goals and 64 points this season, and Snow admitted last month it could be a “challenge” to re-sign all three pending UFAs mentioned above.