Garth Snow has never met a player he didn’t want to sign to a long-term deal.
Kidding aside, the New York Islanders general manager inked forward Casey Cizikas to a five-year deal, worth $16.75 million, reports Arthur Staple of Newsday Sports. The contract averages out to $3.35 million per season and will keep the 25-year-old under contract until the 2020-21 season. It’s an absurd contract.
Blessed to be apart of the @NYIslanders family for the next 5 years!!! #YESYESYES
— Casey Cizikas (@zeeker11) June 2, 2016
Cizikas isn’t a bad player. In fact, he’s a valuable bottom-six center who plays a defensively responsible game. Most teams would want a player like him on their roster. He put up a career-high 30 points in 80 games last season, while adding three assists in 11 playoff matches. All of his points (except for one short-handed goal) came at even strength. He averaged just under 13 minutes per game of ice time. Cizikas was a part of a solid fourth line of the Islanders with Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin.
Despite being a valuable player, handing out that kind of term for a player who regularly plays on the fourth line is insane. Making it over five years is downright ludicrous. Depth players are a dime a dozen, and while Cizikas is an above average depth fourth-liner, it doesn’t make sense to lock him for over $3 million per season given his skill level. Personally, I believe his contract should have been around the three-year, $6-8 million range. General Fanager lists Cizikas contract comparables to Kyle Turris (5 x $3.5 million) and Lars Eller (4 x $3.5 million). He’s not the same quality player as his contract comparables. Cizikas only has 29 career goals. It’s a stark overpayment by Snow.
https://twitter.com/StapeNewsday/status/73845936267136204
Perhaps the worst domino effect created by the Cizikas contract is how it impacts the Islanders cap long term. Snow has already handed out massive deals to Anders Lee, Johnny Boychuk, Nick Leddy and Travis Hamonic. He’s also got significant money tied up on other players beyond next season. New York already needs to sign Ryan Strome, who’s a restricted free agent, to a new contract. Same goes with Shane Prince. There also needs to be money allocated for when Brock Nelson hits RFA in 2018-19 – which happens to be the same season John Tavares hits unrestricted free agency. New York isn’t setting itself up for long-term cap stability. Signing a depth player to such a long, expensive contract could surely come back to bite the team. Every dollar matters.
I don’t hate Cizikas as a player. He’s a hard worker who’s got a long future in the NHL. But, considering the Islanders promised him nearly $17 million over the next five seasons, it’s easy to assume the contract will eventually turn sour for the Islanders – even with a rising cap. It’s hard to like the move, even if you like the player.
