Four years ago, after a quiet summer, GM Lou Lamoriello and the New York Islanders made a discreet announcement of a wave of multi-year signings that helped shape the roster for seasons to come. Anthony Beauvillier, Casey Cizikas, Kyle Palmieri, and Ilya Sorokin were all locked into new deals, each carrying its own expectations and long-term implications. The summer had come and gone with Lamoriello not announcing the signings individually, but rather maintaining secrecy around the particulars of each and choosing to announce them together. Now, with some contracts complete and others still in progress, it’s worth assessing how each has aged.
Anthony Beauvillier – 3 years, $4.15M AAV
Vegas Golden Knights v New York Islanders | Bruce Bennett/GettyImages
Beauvillier’s contract was a classic bridge deal, giving the winger time to prove his consistency as a top-six forward. While he produced in flashes, he never cemented himself as a long-term solution and was ultimately included in the trade that brought Bo Horvat to Long Island. The deal didn’t burden the team, but it didn’t elevate them either. Beauvillier has bounced around a lot since this deal, having played with four additional teams: Nashville, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Washington.
He showed the Capitals enough during the playoffs where he earned himself a two-year contract this off-season. For Islanders fans, although he didn’t rise to his potential on Long Island, he will be forever remembered scoring one of the most memorable goals in the post-dynasty era, the OT game-winner against the Tampa Bay Lightning to close out the Nassau Coliseum.
Casey Cizikas – 6 years, $2.5M AAV
Minnesota Wild v New York Islanders | Andrew Mordzynski/GettyImages
At six years, the term was lengthy, but the $2.5M cap hit was extremely team-friendly. Cizikas has remained the heartbeat of the Islanders’ bottom six. “Long Island is my home and will always be my home. There was nowhere else I wanted to be. I want to retire an Islander. That’s my goal and something I’ll be real proud of when that day come,” said Cizikas after the signing.
This versatile, energy-forward player anchored the “Identity Line” with Clutterbuck and Martin for three more years and could also be asked to play winger on a scoring line when asked. This deal has stood the test of time, providing the Isles with stability without breaking the bank. “These guys are my family. I’ve created friendships that will last a lifetime,” Cizikas said. “I’m going to die an Islander. That’s the way to put it.”
Kyle Palmieri – 4 years, $5.0M AAV
Winnipeg Jets v New York Islanders | Bruce Bennett/GettyImages
Palmieri’s extension followed his strong performance during the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2021, but the $5M price tag at times, has felt heavy. Fans view his signing as the team choosing between Jordan Eberle, who was left unprotected in the expansion draft and the more physical Palmieri. I had a good feeling that things were going to work out here,” the 30-year-old Palmieri said after the signing. “Obviously the goal of our team is no secret. We want to win the Stanley Cup. … I’m excited to spend the next four years here.”
After battling injuries in the first two seasons, he has remained a steady veteran presence and a valuable secondary scorer, capable of scoring 25-30 goals. That’s the reason Lamoriello elected not to trade him at the March trade deadline and why his two-year contract extension was the first piece of business announced by new GM Mathieu Darche.
Ilya Sorokin – 3 years, $4.0M AAV
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders | Bruce Bennett/GettyImages
The Isles secured Sorokin at a bargain price, and he blossomed into one of the NHL’s elite goaltenders over the span of the deal. It set the stage for his long-term extension and gave the Islanders security in goal. How the eight-year extension plays out is still a “TBD” with Sorokin unable to recapture the brilliance of his 2022-23 season over the last two seasons. He’s still capable of being among the NHL elite goaltenders, especially if he gets more help from the team in front of him and a better penalty kill, but his bottom is a top 10-15 goalie in the league, which means it’s unlikely, especially with a rising salary cap, that his contract will ever look bad.