NY Islanders captain Anders Lee is having a start of the season for the ages

Where would the New York Islanders be this season without Anders Lee?

That's a question few expected to be asking themselves 30 games into the 2024-25 season and even fewer expected that the Isles' captain would be the team's leading scorer.

Last night, Lee scored his 13th goal of the season and fifth in the previous seven games - it was also the 273rd of his career, passing John Tavares for eighth on the Isles' all-time scoring list. "That's crazy," said Lee when asked to comment on the achievement. "I'm fortunate to be part of this organization for a long time. It's a special place...I never would have thought this would have been the case, that's for sure."

The milestone goal is the latest highlight in a remarkable first third of the season for a player most were convinced had his best goal-scoring days behind him. According to MSG Networks statistician Eric Hornick, Lee is the first Islander aged 34 or older to score 13 goals in the first 30 games, breaking the record of 12 set by Ed Westfall (then 35) in the 1975-76 season. "Every day, come and give it everything you have, and good things will happen," Lee reflected. "I have been fortunate to be on the right side of a few shots."

Lee is in year six of the seven-year $49M contract extension he signed after the 2018-19 season. Fans and NHL pundits alike have long considered that contract an overpay even though Lee has remained a 20+ goal scorer throughout. This season, you haven't heard that narrative pop up, not with Lee on a 35-goal pace and picking up the load while Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair remain out of the lineup for an extended time. If there was an All-Star Game this season, you could make an easy argument that Lee should be the franchise's representative.

"It started in training camp," head coach Patrick Roy said of Lee's strong performance this season. "He came into camp ready and from day one, he's been working really hard and showing a lot of consistency. It's nice for him to be in the position he is in today, in the history of the Islanders, and I'm sure he wants more."

It's been a great story of an otherwise disappointing a frustrating year to date, but if Lee can remain playing at this level, it does give the Islanders hope that they'll have enough offense to make run at the post-season once Barzal and Duclair come back.