New York Islanders Anders Lee Under the Radar Star

The New York Islanders have a star player that not enough hockey people talk about both on a national and local level. This makes Anders Lee an under the radar star in the NHL.

When one talks New York Islanders forwards that conversation always begins with John Tavares. After that, it seems often times the conversation is can the Isles trade for another top forward such as a Matt Duchene. If trades aren’t discussed than the focus is can youngsters Mathew Barzal or Josh Ho-Sang become a star.

Over the last twelve months, a star hockey player is emerging for the blue and orange and his name is Anders Lee.

Quiet Beginnings

No one anticipated Lee would become a big-time goal scorer. The six-foot-three, 228 pound winger was a sixth-round pick (152nd overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft.

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The kid from Edina, Minnesota went to Notre Dame to develop his game. Since coming to the Islanders, Lee has shown he is one of the Isles core players to build around.

Goal Scorer & More

Lee is showing last year’s break-out performance of 34 goals (lead Isles) and 52 points was no fluke. Lee is currently second on the team with nine goals (Tavares leads with 13).

A couple of years ago Lee showed his potential with a 25-goal campaign. He was rewarded with a four-year deal that off-season. He struggled in year one of his new contract but did find his game at the end of that season (2015-16 season) to finish with 15 goals.

Last year, Lee got off to a very slow start as well. However, from last Thanksgiving on has, there been a better goal scorer than Lee in the NHL (has 42 goals last 80 games)?

Skills

Lee isn’t just some big guy who pushes rebounds into the net. He has great hands, skills, and ridiculous ability to deflect pucks in front of the net.

On top of that Lee, of course, uses his massive size to his advantage by getting in front of the goalie and screening him. Lee has shown he is almost an immovable force in front of the oppositions net during the Isles power play.

Lee has meshed well with the captain as well. The two of them have built a great chemistry and gel with one another on the ice.

Lee (28 in July) is in the third-year of his four-year contract. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after next season (2018-19 season).

Next: Isles Three Best Defenders So Far

Everyone is focused on the Isles signing the captain to a long-term extension and rightfully so. But Garth Snow needs to ink Lee to a long-term extension this coming summer as well. In the meantime, Islander fans make sure you give the love that Anders Lee deserves.