Islanders lean on youth as Casey Cizikas’s identity line helps forge a new persona
Cizikas, at 34, is the oldest player in the preseason lineup, signaling a shift as the Islanders test a younger core.
The New York Islanders opened their preseason lineup against the New Jersey Devils with Casey Cizikas as the oldest player on the ice, at 34, in a group heavy on AHLers and prospects. Cizikas acknowledged the age gap afterward, telling The Post on Wednesday that only goaltender Marcus Hogberg, at 31, was closer in age. “Other than [goaltender Marcus Hogberg, who’s 31], the closest guy, I think, was six or seven years younger than me,” he said.
The divergence in age is notable when considering the regular-season roster, where Anders Lee is 35 and Semyon Varlamov is 37, meaning Cizikas will not hold the same elder-statesman status come October. The contrast underlines a new reality for the team as it’s assembled this fall—a run of younger players and prospects that could shape the identity of the Islanders in the years ahead. In the preseason, the lineup’s composition leaned heavily on players with recent or emerging experience in the American Hockey League, a deliberate signal that development remains at the forefront during evaluation.
The shift ties into a broader theme tied to the franchise’s identity line—the group long associated with a hard-hitting, physical approach. The piece notes that the identity line’s past is helping forge a new Islanders persona as the organization tests a different roster profile. Cizikas’ experience is now viewed through the prism of leadership and development rather than as the lone elder on a still-building group. He described the moment as reflective of the new reality around the club: while he and others may edge closer to the end of their direct on-ice tenure, they serve as mentors to a wave of younger players who could anchor the club for years to come. The team’s ongoing practice and scrimmage sessions will continue this week as coaches weigh which combinations can sustain competitive play while accelerating the growth of prospects.
The Islanders have not offered a definitive timetable for lineup changes, but the emphasis on youth in the preseason suggests a longer-term realignment rather than a quick, one-season pivot. The club remains focused on balancing veteran leadership with opportunities for players advancing through the pipeline, aiming to build a cohesive identity that can translate from exhibition play into the regular season and beyond.