Anders Lee's leverage in contract talks with the NY Islanders are increasing

Anders Lee's position in negotiations with the New York Islanders has become stronger heading into free agency.

After the Washington Capitals acquired Alex Tuch from the Buffalo Sabres and signed him to an eight-year contract extension, Lee moved up to become the highest-ranked unrestricted free agent forward available on TSN's rankings.

The 35-year-old Islanders captain is coming off a season in which he recorded 19 goals and 42 points in 82 games. While Lee spent much of the season in a middle-six role, his combination of size, leadership and scoring ability could make him an attractive option for teams looking to add veteran forward depth. The Minnesota Wild, where Lee's is from, has often been linked to the Edina, MN native, but there could be other suitors as well.

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reported last week that the Islanders and Lee's representatives remain in discussions, though it appears increasingly likely that Lee will test the open market when free agency opens on Wednesday. GM Mathieu Darche said the same after this weekend's draft.

Lee has spent his entire 14-year NHL career with the Islanders after being selected by the club in the sixth round of the 2009 NHL Draft. He has served as team captain since the 2018-19 season and recently completed a seven-year contract worth $49 million, which carried an average annual value of $7 million.

If Lee reaches free agency, the lack of available impact forwards on the market could work in his favor. For the Islanders, that means the decision on whether to retain one of the longest-tenured captains in franchise history may become more difficult as July 1 approaches.

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