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.