Lee makes his feelings about remaining with Islanders crystal clear

The New York Islanders have had a tremendous, resurgent season this year. After a tough year in which they missed the playoffs last year, the Isles are right back into the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Entering Monday night’s action, the Isles are third in the Metro Division, one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and four points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets. That’s breathing room, but not enough to coast the rest of the way.

But one of the storylines throughout this year has been the future of captain Anders Lee. The Islanders could have traded the impending UFA at this year’s NHL trade deadline. However, doing so would have driven a stake through the heart of the entire Islanders’ organization.

Lee has been the cornerstone since he took over the captaincy in 2018. During his watch, the Islanders made it to back-to-back Conference Finals, while also maintaining a strong ethic as a group. That’s why Lee has made it crystal clear he wants to stay in Long Island.

When asked about ending his career with the Isles, Lee replied:

“For sure, for sure. I mean, there’s no doubt about that.”

Lee’s comments during a recent interview with RG Media painted a picture of a player who’s committed to his future with the club.

The 35-year-old is entering the final year of his seven-year, $49 million deal. He hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, scoring 15 goals and 35 points in 64 games this season.

So, it’s a safe bet that the Isles and Lee will find a way to work this out this offseason. In the meantime, the most important thing is to focus on making the playoffs and having a strong showing.

Islanders captain points out what makes Islanders successful

Lee has been a huge part of making the Islanders successful this season. But he’s aware that it’s not only his doing. The entire team has had a hand in pushing the club towards a good year this season.

But there’s one thing that Lee points out as the secret to the team’s success:

“Knowing our game, what makes us successful, and playing it the best we can.”

While cryptic, the comments point towards precisely what makes the Isles a good team. Lee added that it’s the defense and goaltending that make the Isles such a great team.

“I think when we play as one, that’s exactly who we are. We're stingy. We don't give up a ton. We have great goaltending, and we fight our way through every game. I think that that's who we are."

The hope is that Lee and the Islanders can remain together for the next while. It’s likely the two sides will hammer out a short-term deal to keep their captain in the fold. For now, the focus is on winning and turning a real corner this season.