New York Islanders: Extended or not, respect for Anders Lee never in doubt

Market conditions

The new salary standard for Lee was just set by Kevin Hayes. The former MSG center signed for over $7M per season for seven seasons with Philadelphia. Lee is a better goal scorer than Hayes (Lee has 152 career goals in 421 games while Hayes has 92 in 381), but overall they are similar players to the market. Both play offensive positions, both under age 30, both with playoff experience With those similarities in mind, Lee could get around the same type of money and term.

Lee is openly stated he too, wants to stay with the Islanders. He is even doing a charity event in New York with Kevin Shattenkirk soon, which proves that. But, that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t turn down a potentially better deal elsewhere when he deserves it, and the market has already opened up for it.

So, if Lee does not re-sign, which testing the market might mean the beginning of the end. It does not seem like it would be the Islanders trying to disrespect Lee at all. They think he brings something unique to the room. However, if by not keeping him gets the team more with less, then that is the correct decision. The Islanders have already been able to keep two players, and if Lee gets what Hayes got, I don’t know if we could say that.

I don’t want Anders Lee to leave, he clearly brings some intangible assets to the New York Islanders. Additionally, he is a perennial 30-ish goal scorer in the league. However, I also don’t want the Islanders to feel obligated to re-sign him now, or at all if it will cost them too much.

Let’s not forget what a player like Artemi Panarin will get now, too if that Hayes deal is the standard, most likely seven years and over $75M. The market is getting expensive and Lee along with it.