Longtime Islanders captain Anders Lee is preparing to hit free agency, according to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun.
Lee’s agent Neil Sheehy met with Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche on Wednesday, and both sides remain far apart, LeBrun reported.
Lee, who turns 36 on July 3, is in the final year of a seven-year contract worth $7 million per year. He was named Islanders captain in 2018.
In April, when asked about Lee’s possible entrance into free agency, Darche was complimentary of the captain.
“I told Anders I’d love to see him play his 1,000th game with the Islanders,” Darche shared. “What that looks like, whether we were able to find something that’s suitable for us and for him, we’ll discuss. But I know he’s not far from it.”
Should Lee remain with the team and stay healthy, he could reach 1,000 games next season, as he’s at 922 right now.
“The way Anders played this year, I think he can still help us. The question is, do we get to an agreement that makes sense for him and for us?” Darche said.
The Islanders reportedly are continuing to negotiate with Lee. There are still several weeks until Lee would officially become a free agent July 1, should a deal fail to get done before the official start of the new league year.
Should he become available, Lee will be highly sought after by contenders, especially given his size and leadership, which will be difficult for the Islanders to replace should he go elsewhere.
He is ranked 14th on TSN’s list of available unrestricted free agents. Last season, Lee recorded 19 goals and 42 points in 82 games for the Islanders.