NY Islanders captain Anders Lee feels renewed energy at the start of training camp

The New York Islanders hit the ice for their first official practice of training camp this week, and captain Anders Lee was quick to share his excitement about the team’s direction, chemistry, and fresh faces. For Lee, skating alongside Mathew Barzal and Kyle Palmieri felt natural. The trio has logged shifts together before, and Lee believes that with trust and communication, the line can become a force.

“It’s just communication. It’s reading off one another, letting us use our strengths individually,” Lee said. “We all have separate strengths that can contribute to a line and make it effective. If we utilize one another, we can do a lot of good stuff out there.”

That attention to chemistry extends to the organization’s newest star, first overall pick Matthew Schaefer, who has already impressed his captain with his poise and maturity.

“He’s just got such a good head on his shoulders,” Lee said. “His hockey prowess will shine through, but what’s going to help him early is his mindset and demeanor. There’s a lot of responsibility being the first overall pick, and it couldn’t have happened to a better kid that can handle that kind of thing.”

Schaefer has also been welcomed off the ice. Lee noted that veterans have gone out of their way to make the 18-year-old feel comfortable, including dinners at Matt Martin’s house.

“It’s nice to take a step away and sit on the couch and play with little kids,” Lee said with a smile. “We’ve all taken them in as much as we can. It’s about making him and the other young guys feel comfortable.”

With so much change this offseason—new general manager Mathieu Darche, signings like Jonathan Drouin and Maxim Shabanov, and the addition of Schaefer—the excitement level is palpable.

“We want to be ready to go for night one,” Lee said. “We’ve got a group that believes in one another more than anyone else out there. There’s a good energy surrounding us, some skill and energy infused into the lineup, and a lot to look forward to.”

For Lee and the Islanders, camp is about laying the foundation for a season with high expectations.