Darche taking patient approach with NY Islanders captain Lee’s expiring contract

As the New York Islanders prepare for the 2025-26 season, one of the storylines hanging over the franchise is the future of captain Anders Lee. The 35-year-old winger is entering the final year of his seven-year, $49 million contract signed in the summer of 2019, and for new general manager Mathieu Darche, the plan is simple: wait and see.

Lee is coming off a resurgent campaign in which he rediscovered his scoring touch and proved he can still be an important piece in the Islanders’ lineup. After a difficult stretch of inconsistency the previous two seasons, the captain rebounded with a 29-goal season, reminding fans and teammates alike why he has been one of the team’s most reliable net-front presences for over a decade.

Darche, though, isn’t rushing into any decisions. Taking a patient approach has been part of his philosophy since arriving on Long Island in May. “I said to him, ‘Let’s start the year and see where it goes,’” Darche said via Pierre LeBrun in The Athletic. “There’s no urgency on his side, on my side. He’s the captain of our team, and I really like the individual. But I’m new to the team, right? There’s no one that’s on an expiring deal, that has one year left, that I’ve re-signed. It’s not because I don’t want to, I had enough on my plate this summer. I’ve got a great relationship with Anders.’’

That stance mirrors the lessons Darche carried from his years in Tampa Bay under Julien BriseBois: take the emotion out of the decision and focus on the bigger picture. For the Islanders, that means evaluating how Lee and the team perform this season under Patrick Roy, and what the organization’s roster needs will look like moving forward.

Lee’s leadership is unquestioned, and his presence in the locker room will be critical as the Isles integrate young talent like first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer. But when it comes to his next contract, Darche’s message is clear: let this season play out first.