The New York Islanders are facing the very real possibility of losing their captain this summer. According to a report from TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, long-time Islanders forward Anders Lee appears increasingly likely to test the open market as an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
LeBrun reports that Lee’s agent, Neil Sheehy, met with Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche to discuss a potential extension. However, the two sides remain “far apart” on the parameters of a new deal. While the organization reportedly intends to keep negotiating and wants their captain back in the fold, the current gap in expectations means that the draft and free agency period could mark the beginning of the end for Lee’s tenure on Long Island.
With several weeks remaining before the official start of the new league year, there is still time for negotiations to shift. Front offices and agents frequently use the threat of free agency as a final leverage point, and a breakthrough in talks could materialize.
However, if Lee does hit the open market, the 35-year-old forward will draw plenty of attention from contending teams looking for size, leadership, and net-front production. Lee has spent his entire 13-year NHL career with the Islanders, serving as team captain since 2018. Replacing his locker room presence and physical edge would be a massive challenge for Darche. For now, the Isles will need to do all they can to course correct in their conversations, or determine if their captain will wear a new sweater next season.
Grandpa Lou gave Anders an early birthday present when he signed him to a seven year contract seven years ago. It was a head scratcher back then, but Lou loved giving out long term contracts. I’m sorry but Anders is not a seven million dollar player anymore. He’s not even a five million dollar player. This team needs to get younger, if he take four million he can stay, otherwise enjoy going back home to Minnesota.
Bro the Lou haters are just nuts now. He was a key piece of two separate teams that made a run to the ECF, you are just making stuff up at this point
First off don’t call me Bro. Secondly I’m not making anything up. Lee played a role on a team that went to the ECF’s twice. Isn’t the ultimate goal to win a Stanley Cup? That team because of Grandpa Lou’s inability to improve, and upgrade the talent went in the opposite direction. Now that the team is trending upwards a player like Lee is replaceable. He is a bottom six forward at best. And should be paid accordingly. If he thinks he can do better elsewhere, I wish him the best of luck.
Your initial point was the contract was bad, my counter point is that makes no sense when he was paid a reasonable cap hit and was an integral part of two deep playoff runs. I understand the frustration with the last few years of Lou’s tenure but the Lee contract was excellent. It helped the team make deep playoff runs you can never guarantee a cup.
Don’t know where to fit the bro in so I’ll just do it here 😂
I’ve never seen more of a Ken Holland and Kings signing in my life lol. I’m not happy about that and I don’t want him on the team, but damn, chances are probably greater than I wish lol
Still a durable, decent middle-six scorer, but he’s 35, his physicality’s dropping, and one sure sign of a declining player is when positive takeaway-giveaway numbers suddenly run sharply negative. He wants more than two years, or more than $3.5-4 MM or thereabouts, thank him for his service and wish the suckers who sign him well.