The Islander Who Never Left: How Casey Cizikas Became Untouchable

"On January 6th, 2026, Casey Cizikas registered two goals and an assist, helping the New York Islanders to a victory over the New Jersey Devils. A good game, no doubt. Three points for a checking line forward, whose main objective on a night-to-night basis is keeping the puck out of his own net. But the three-point effort was particularly rare for Cizikas; the 34-year-old who stands a shade under six-feet-tall and tips the scales at 191 lbs."

"Sidney Crosby. Alexander Ovechkin. Evgeni Malkin. Anze Kopitar. Jamie Benn. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Mikael Backlund. Casey Cizikas? What do these eight have in common, you ask? These are the current NHL forwards who have played 900 career games for their respective NHL franchises and never left. Look back at that list. Crosby. A Mount Rushmore player, in the midst of his...don't adjust your screen brightness...record-setting 21st consecutive season averaging a point per game. When you're breaking records set by a guy named Gretzky, you've done alright."

"Ovechkin. 900 GOALS. With the body of a Dad who spends his time in the hot tub while the kids take swimming lessons at the public pool. When you're breaking records set by a guy named Gretzky, you've done alright. Malkin. Does he wear the same visor your parents cheaped out on in that one year you tried refereeing as a 13-year old? Yes. But he also has three cups, a Hart, and has nearly 1400 career points."

Casey Cizikas recorded two goals and an assist on January 6, 2026, propelling the New York Islanders to a win over the New Jersey Devils. It was Cizikas' first three-point night since October 17, 2017, marking a 3003-day gap. Eight current NHL forwards have reached 900 games with a single franchise without leaving: Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Anze Kopitar, Jamie Benn, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Mikael Backlund, and Casey Cizikas. Those players include perennial superstars with major awards and milestones, including Crosby's long streak of point-per-game seasons and Ovechkin's 900 goals.

Read at Puck Prose