PuckSleuth
Casey Cizikas53

New York Islanders · Center · Shoots L

Casey Cizikas

Age 35 · 5'11" · 190 lb · Born in Toronto, CAN

Cap hit

$2.5M

2.4% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

−$134K

vs. $2.366M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

GP

2

Goals

1

25.0% shooting

Assists

1

1 primary

Points

2

1.00 per game

TOI/GP

11:47

PP 0:00 · PK 3:11

Plus/minus

+2

Hits

4

Blocks 0

PIM

0

Game Score

+1.26

per game

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Oct 3
vs NJD · W 6-0
1142014:050:004:424-25001+2+2.32
Sep 30
@ TOR · L 2-1
000209:290:001:404-50000+0.20
Apr 14
vs CAR · L 2-1
0010012:250:000:522-10000+0.11
Apr 12
vs MTL · L 4-1
1011011:240:001:262-250100+0.95
Apr 11
vs OTT · L 3-0
0063113:290:093:461-2—000+0.68

GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 810 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%48.4%

43rd percentile

Relative xGF%+0.9

60th percentile

HDCF%50.5%

59th percentile

CF%49.3%

51st percentile

Relative CF%+0.4

56th percentile

FF%50.2%

58th percentile

GF%46.2%

37th percentile

CF/6051.9

25th percentile

CA/6053.4

79th percentile

ixG/600.79

34th percentile

Goals above expected-0.7

49th percentile

IPP58.3%

30th percentile

PDO98.2

31st percentile

OZS%48.1%

35th percentile

Faceoff %54.7%

351 won · 291 lost (all strengths)

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleDefensive anchor center

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Cizikas is a relentless forechecking presence who thrives on defensive assignments, ranking in the elite tier for both forechecking and defensive impact. He moves the puck conservatively from a limited possession touch, focusing his limited ice time on winning matchups rather than driving offense.

Defensive wallAggressive forecheckerPossession-light
Shooting volume
37
Playmaking
42
Zone entries(est.)
74
Forechecking
87
Physicality
86
Defensive impact
98
Puck management
22
Speed
70

Where he shoots from

Slot 60% · Mid-range 26% · Perimeter 15%(129 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Elite defensive impact at 98th percentile anchors a shutdown role
  • Outstanding forechecking at 87th percentile creates turnovers and pressure
  • Strong physicality at 86th percentile enforces on every shift

Watch-outs

  • Puck management at 22nd percentile limits playmaking upside from limited touches
  • Shooting volume at 37th percentile reflects offensive role mismatch rather than prime years
  • Minimal playmaking at 42nd percentile shows he sets up teammates sparingly

Similar style: Parker Kelly (COL), Zakhar Bardakov

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

SeasonLeagueTeamGPGAP+/-PIM
2005-06 (playoffs)Big Nickel BantamMississauga Reps Bantam AAA440400
2006-07GTHLMiss. Reps774660106—88
2007-08OHLSt. Michael's62182341+1241
2007-08 (playoffs)OHLSt. Michael's4123-16
2008-09OHLSt. Michael's55162036-1539
2008-09 (playoffs)OHLSt. Michael's11549+111
2009-10OHLSt. Michael's68253762+3277
2009-10 (playoffs)OHLSt. Michael's167714-216
2010-11OHLSt. Michael's52293564+4340
2010-11WJC-ACanada7213+16
2010-11 (playoffs)OHLSt. Michael's1651419+1114
2010-11 (playoffs)M-CupSt. Michael's5213+22
2011-12NHLNew York Islanders15044+16
2011-12AHLBridgeport52153045+2630
2011-12 (playoffs)AHLBridgeport3000-220
2012-13NHLNew York Islanders456915014
2012-13AHLBridgeport31101121-1535
2012-13 (playoffs)NHLNew York Islanders6224+112
2013-14NHLNew York Islanders8061016-1230
2014-15NHLNew York Islanders709918-224
2014-15 (playoffs)NHLNew York Islanders7101+10
2015-16NHLNew York Islanders8082129+431
2015-16 (playoffs)NHLNew York Islanders11033-116
2016-17NHLNew York Islanders5981725+930
2017-18NHLNew York Islanders6471017-1223
2018-19NHLNew York Islanders73201333+2236
2018-19 (playoffs)NHLNew York Islanders8000-66
2019-20NHLNew York Islanders4810414+1241
2019-20 (playoffs)NHLNew York Islanders1802208
2020-21NHLNew York Islanders567714-227
2020-21 (playoffs)NHLNew York Islanders1923502
2021-22NHLNew York Islanders7410616-348
2022-23NHLNew York Islanders8161521054
2022-23 (playoffs)NHLNew York Islanders6123-216
2023-24NHLNew York Islanders70101323-222
2023-24 (playoffs)NHLNew York Islanders5112-114
2024-25NHLNew York Islanders8271017-1351
2025-26NHLNew York Islanders8110818-320
2026-27NHLNew York Islanders2112+20

Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Recent Game Scores

Last 10 games · goals above average

Average +0.49 per game over these 10.

Where his Game Score comes from

+0.31 per game

2025-26 · 81 GP

Season total +25.1, or +0.31 per game.

Scoring
+15.6
Shooting
+6.0
5-on-5 goals
-0.6
Defense
+1.1
Penalty kill
-0.5
Physical play
+5.9
Puck battles
-1.9
Penalties
-1.1
Faceoffs
+0.6

Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2026-27, as of Oct 2

Top speed
20.3 mph
36th pct
20+ mph bursts
1
Hardest shot
—
Distance
1.6 mi
OZ time
38.3%
23rd pct
DZ time
43.5%

Usage

Last game: vs NJD, Oct 3

Line 4 with Ondrej Palat and Matias Maccelli (6:55 together at 5-on-5)

From the NHL's shift chart.

Age curve

At 35: 56% of peak

NHL forwards · production index

202937

At 35, forwards typically produce 56% of their peak (age 24).

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Contract by season

1 season left

SeasonTeamCap hit% of cap
2026-27NYI$2.5M2.4%

UFA after 2026-27. $2.5M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).