Anders Lee’s Time With the Islanders Is Likely Coming to an End – The Hockey Writers – New York Islanders

Anders Lee could be heading to unrestricted free agency as the New York Islanders and their captain are a “long way off” from agreeing to terms, per NHL insider Pierre LeBrun.  

LeBrun reported on Wednesday that Lee’s agent, Neil Sheehy, and Islanders general manager (GM) Mathieu Darche met recently. Lee, who has played his entire career with the Islanders after being a sixth-round draft pick in 2009, is almost certainly expected to test free agency on July 1, though the Islanders “do have interest in keeping their captain.” 

While the Islanders and Lee’s camp are talking, the two sides are reportedly nowhere near an agreement. Lee’s career has spanned 923 regular-season games and he’s posted 308 goals and 549 points. He became captain of the Islanders in the fall of 2018 after John Tavares left as a free agent and helped lead the team to consecutive Eastern Conference Final appearances in 2020 and 2021. 

This past season he played all 82 games, scoring 19 goals and 23 assists for 42 points. He still has value, especially around the net and in the locker room, but the two sides face a difficult decision. Lee is no longer the same player who signed his last contract, and the Islanders are no longer in a position where they can pay for past production. Any decision now has to be based on fit, role, and whether both sides can find a number that makes sense.

Islanders Can Only Bring Lee Back at the Right Price 

Lee is coming off of a seven-year, $49 million deal, but a return only makes sense if the price reflects the player he is now. If a return were to happen, he would have to fill a bottom-six role at a much lower cap hit. 

Lee has earned the respect of his teammates, the organization, and fans. Losing that leadership will not be easy. Nevertheless, the team needs more speed, flexibility and room for younger players. If Lee moves on, Victor Eklund may be the biggest beneficiary. Eklund should be one of the first players they look at to help fill that opening.

Lee deserves to see what else is out there and the Islanders are right to draw a line in the sand. The worst-possible scenario for the team is to try and force a reunion. If Lee plays next season, it should be because the Islanders are getting value on his contract and Lee has a specific role carved out for himself.  

Lee’s Islanders’ Legacy Is Secure 

Lee is a legend on Long Island and carried the franchise through their most successful period of hockey since the 1980s. He cemented himself as a leader, a dependable goal scorer and one of the faces of the organization. 

Off the ice, his contribution to the community cannot be understated. His organization, Jam Kancer in the Kan, which supports children battling cancer and their families on Long Island, goes above and beyond the ice and will provide him a legacy in the community long after his hockey playing days. 

He is one of the longest-serving forwards in team history and has represented the Islanders well for the last decade. While Lee’s career on Long Island deserves respect, Darche cannot and should not base his decision on Lee’s past accomplishments alone. This situation forces the GM to envision and prepare the roster for the future.

The team has not shut the door and still intends on trying to bring Lee back. While time is running out before free agency on July 1, it still feels that there is enough time for Lee and Darche to find some common ground. That may seem like a surprise given his recent statements about the impending decision on his future in New York. 

Lee hit free agency in the summer of 2019 before agreeing to his current contract, so a reunion doesn’t seem out of the question. However, this time feels different. 

The Islanders are trying to move forward and Darche has to show that he can be aggressive to set up this roster for success, even if some of those decisions are difficult ones to make.