Cal Clutterbuck says NY Islanders are officially entering a new era of hockey

The departure of Anders Lee isn't just the end of a captain's tenure. According to former New York Islanders winger and current broadcaster Cal Clutterbuck, it marks the end of an era.

Speaking during MSG Network's offseason special, Clutterbuck said Lee's decision to sign with the Utah Mammoth represents a significant turning point for both the organization and second-year general manager Mathieu Darche.

"It's really the end of the Anders Lee era," Clutterbuck said. "For those of us who spent time on Long Island through those successful years and those conference final runs, Anders Lee was the emotional leader."

Lee served as Islanders captain since the 2018-19 season, leading the club through one of its most successful stretches since the dynasty years. During his tenure, the Islanders reached back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021, while Lee established himself as one of the franchise's most respected leaders on and off the ice.

But with Lee now in Utah, Clutterbuck believes Darche is officially putting his own stamp on the franchise. "I think it's one of those situations for the Islanders where Mathieu Darche is trying to create his own team," Clutterbuck continued. "Anders Lee really is the last one … this sort of changing of the guard here."

The timing certainly supports that view.

"We'll see who wears the 'C' next year, but for Mathieu Darche, they're now building around Matthew Schaefer."

Since taking over hockey operations, Darche has reshaped the roster through trades, free agency and the draft, while also moving behind the bench by replacing Patrick Roy with Pete DeBoer. At the same time, a new generation led by Schaefer, Victor Eklund and several other top prospects has begun to emerge.

Lee's departure removes one of the final connections to the veteran core that carried the Islanders through their deepest playoff runs of the past decade.

Whether Darche's vision ultimately proves successful remains to be seen. What isn't debatable is that the Islanders are entering a new chapter. And as Clutterbuck sees it, Lee's exit isn't just another roster move. It's the official passing of the torch from one era of Islanders hockey to the next.

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