Anders Lee didn’t head into the offseason expecting a farewell tour. He believed his next contract would keep him on Long Island, where he had spent his entire NHL career and where he hoped to reach the 1,000-game mark before hanging it up.
Instead, after 14 seasons, 923 regular-season games and 308 goals with the Islanders, he’s moving on to Utah after signing a three-year deal on Jul. 1.
The surprise was real for Lee. “I didn't anticipate (leaving) at all or go into this process thinking that this would be the result,” Lee told The Athletic. “I definitely had hope.”
The split came down to a difference in terms, not a lack of interest. Islanders GM Mathieu Darche said publicly that he wanted Lee back, but only on the club’s terms.
Lee wanted more than the one-year offer the team was prepared to make. “They had their stance on the term, and I understand their side and they understood my side,” Lee said.
“Sometimes this is just the result. It's not personal or anything like that.
This is part of our game, and going through that isn't easy.”
For Lee, the departure carries real weight because of what his Islanders years meant. He became one of the most accomplished players in franchise history, wore the captain’s “C” through consecutive Eastern Conference Final runs, and finished fourth on the Islanders’ all-time goals list.
Once free agency opened, eight teams showed interest, including his hometown Minnesota Wild. But Lee landed on Utah, saying it felt like the best fit on and off the ice. He pointed to the organization’s commitment, including owner Ryan Smith greeting him personally after the signing and teammates quickly reaching out to help his family settle in.
Even with that fresh start, the goodbye to his old locker room has been tough. “Those are my guys, and I care for them,” Lee said.
“They mean a lot to me, and I’m going to miss them. We worked together, we played together, we grew up together.”
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