NY Islanders captain assesses team's performance at the season's halfway point

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee didn’t hesitate when asked to assess the Islanders at the halfway point of the season. The captain sees a team that has earned its place in the standings — and one that still has room to grow.

“I like where we’re at,” Lee said following Friday’s morning skate. “I like where we’re heading.”

At the midpoint of the 82-game grind, Lee believes the Islanders have done “some really good work,” pointing to stretches of strong hockey and an ability to push through adversity that inevitably shows up over the first 41 games. Some opportunities were seized, others slipped away, but Lee views that as part of the process rather than a red flag.

What matters most to the captain is that the Islanders are in position to build. Lee said he expected this group to be in the playoff mix at this stage, but emphasized that expectations don’t mean much without execution. In his view, the Islanders have risen to key moments — whether through timely goals or big saves — and that consistency over time is what has them in a playoff spot.

Lee also acknowledged how tight the Metropolitan Division remains, noting that while two points in October count the same as two points in January, the margin for error shrinks as the calendar flips. With more divisional games looming, he stressed the importance of staying even-keeled.

“There’s no letup,” Lee said. “You can’t take anything for granted.”

One encouraging sign for the Isles is the return of Ilya Sorokin, who skated with the group for the first time since his injury. Lee called it “great to see” the franchise goaltender progressing, while also giving credit to David Rittich for steadying the team during Sorokin’s absence. “He’s such a gamer,” Lee said of Rittich. “He’s stolen a few games for us, and sometimes you need that.”

As the Islanders enter the second half, Lee’s message was simple: stay grounded, trust the work, and keep pushing. The foundation is there. What comes next will depend on how well they build on it.