Anders Lee has worn the Islanders sweater for his entire NHL career, but that lengthy tenure on Long Island could be coming to an end. According to reports from TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, Lee’s agent Neil Sheehy sat down with Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche on Wednesday, and the two sides remain significantly apart when it comes to hammering out a new deal. The 35-year-old captain, whose current contract expires this summer, now looks like he could be heading toward unrestricted free agency on July 1.

A captain’s legacy on the line

Lee has been the heart and soul of the Islanders organization for over a decade. Originally selected 152nd overall by New York in the 2009 NHL Draft, the Edina, Minnesota native has compiled an impressive resume during his time with the franchise. Over 923 career games, he has tallied 308 goals and 549 points, establishing himself as one of the most consistent forwards in team history.

He was handed the captaincy back in October 2018 and has worn the “C” with pride ever since. Under his leadership, the Islanders made deep playoff runs in both 2020 and 2021, reaching the Eastern Conference Final in consecutive seasons. Both times, they fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who went on to capture the Stanley Cup.

Beyond his contributions at the NHL level, Lee has also represented the United States on the international stage, suiting up three times at the World Hockey Championship and earning bronze medals in 2015 and 2018.

This past season, the 6-foot-3 winger put up 19 goals and 42 points across a full 82-game slate, demonstrating that he still has plenty left in the tank as he approaches his mid-thirties. He turns 36 on July 3, just two days after free agency officially opens.

What comes next for Lee and the Islanders

Despite the gap in negotiations, the Islanders have not given up hope of bringing their captain back. Darche himself has spoken glowingly about Lee in recent months. Back in April, the GM expressed his desire to see Lee reach a significant milestone in an Islanders uniform.

“I told Anders I’d love to see him play his 1,000th game with the Islanders,” Darche said at the time. “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.”

With 922 career games already under his belt, Lee would need just 78 more appearances to hit that coveted mark, something that could happen during the upcoming season if he stays healthy. Darche also acknowledged that Lee remains a valuable contributor on the ice.

“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?” the GM noted.

Lee is wrapping up a seven-year deal worth $49 million that carried an annual cap hit of $7 million. At his age, it is unlikely he would command that same figure on his next contract, but finding a number that satisfies both player and team has proven to be a challenge so far.

Should Lee ultimately hit the open market, he figures to draw significant interest from contending teams. His combination of size, goal-scoring ability, and veteran leadership makes him a valuable addition to any roster looking to make a deep playoff push. He currently ranks 14th on TSN’s list of top available unrestricted free agents.

There are still several weeks before the free agency window officially opens on July 1, leaving some time for the Islanders and Lee to potentially bridge the gap. But as things stand right now, the possibility of Lee playing elsewhere next season is very real, and that would mark the end of one of the longest and most meaningful tenures in recent Islanders history.