The book closes on No. 27 in NY Islanders history after Anders Lee's departure

When Anders Lee signed with the Utah Mammoth, the New York Islanders didn't just lose their captain. They quietly closed the book on one of the most unique jersey stories in franchise history.

For 14 seasons, Lee proudly wore No. 27, a number already immortalized in the rafters at UBS Arena. It belonged to Islanders legend John Tonelli, whose jersey was retired in February 2020, the same month the Islanders retired Butch Goring's No. 91 (years after another former captain, John Tavares, wore it).

Yet unlike virtually every other retired number in professional sports, the Islanders made a rare exception, allowing Lee to continue wearing No. 27 for the remainder of his career on Long Island. The same exception wasn't given to Vladimir Malakhov when Bobby Nystrom's No. 23 was retired; the Russian defenseman changed his jersey to No. 72.

Lee was an exception and Tonelli had no problem with that decision.

Dec 29, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; New York Islanders forward Anders Lee (27) against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Islanders 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

"Ever since he put on 27, I've been watching him like a hawk," Tonelli said during the retirement ceremony with a smile. "But I am so impressed, I am so honored that he is going to continue to wear our number. I can just tell he's got character, he's a great leader and I want him to wear that and hopefully one day we'll be up there together. I'm cheering big time for that."

For the next six seasons, every home game featured a unique sight. Lee skated beneath the No. 27 hanging from the rafters, carrying on the legacy of one Islanders great while creating one of his own.

Tonelli never viewed Lee as someone borrowing his number. He viewed him as someone adding to its legacy. "I am so proud and so honored you will continue to wear our No. 27," Tonelli said. "I also look forward to the day we can share it all the way to the top of the rafters."

Now, with Lee beginning the next chapter of his career in Utah, No. 27 will finally belong to history alone. No future Islander will wear it.

Whether Lee's own number eventually joins Tonelli's in the rafters remains a decision for another day. But one thing is certain, after 14 seasons, eight as captain, and nearly 1,000 games as an Islander, whenever fans look up to the rafters at UBS Arena and see No. 27, they'll think of two players.

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