Islanders get bad news about future with Anders Lee originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Anders Lee wears the 'C' as the New York Islanders' captain.
Whether or not that continues is now an open question as Lee approaches free agency, in need of a new contract to stay with the only NHL team he's ever known.
A report from The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun on Wednesday has made matters murky as negotiations with Lee are ongoing.
"Looking like Anders Lee is preparing to hit free agency," LeBrun wrote on X. "His agent Neil Sheehy met with Isles GM Mathieu Darche today. Both sides far apart. The Isles intend to keep trying, they want their captain back. But Lee appears most likely headed to market at the moment. Obviously things could change between now and July 1."
Lee was a sixth-round pick by the Islanders in the 2009 NHL Draft who went and played college hockey at Notre Dame before reaching the Islanders.
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He has spent parts of 14 NHL seasons with this franchise, appearing in 923 games with 308 goals and 241 assists (549 points).
Lee has played 82 games in three of the past four seasons (and 81 in the other one). He's as reliable as they come for the Islanders.
In 2025-26, he finished with 19 goals, 23 assists and 91 hits.
Lee will turn 36 years old in July, so his NHL journey is slowing moving toward its conclusion. He'd still be useful to the Islanders, or to any other team, depending on what his contract asking price is.
Right now, though, it sounds like Lee's hopes for a deal might not align with the Islanders, and that could send him toward another team for the first time in his NHL career.