New York Islanders: Reaction to every free agency move, including missing out on Panarin
Reaction to keeping Anders Lee
Like I mentioned before, I was hellbent on the idea of the Islanders landing Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, or at least one of them. Also, the days ticked on and Captain Anders Lee was not extended, making it seem like the Islanders were not going to commit at all if they didn’t want to commit to the eight-year max. However, speculation is just that, speculation.
Despite many theories and because of the waiting game, it seemed as Lee was a goner. But, as fate would have it, he was never leaving, Lou was waiting it out to see what he could land.
Anders Lee never left the NYIslanders. We did not “negotiate” with teams as Anders wanted to stay with the @NYIslanders. There was much interest and his $7M AAV allows Lou Lamoriello to pursue players who can help the Islanders win. Anders was staying with-or-without Panarin. https://t.co/8SPutmloDH
— I-C-E Hockey Agency (@ICEHockeyAgent) July 2, 2019
The Islanders got back the one player they truly needed to, Anders Lee. Even though it seems like Lee is a downgrade and consolation prize for the Isles, who showed rather boisterous ambition, they keep their captain.
Lee is a major player on the Islanders and a huge part of the culture change. He is beloved by the fans and captained the team to a triple-digit point season and a sweep in the playoffs.
Lee coming back, makes too much sense. And at the end of the day, waiting until July 1 also makes too much sense. The Islanders are trying to win build a team so that eight-year does not matter, and now they can keep a core together.
I am beyond thrilled that Lee is back and we won’t realize the dividends it will play until the season starts and picks up where it left off.
Wanting Panarin here did not mean you couldn’t also have wanted Lee or would have been happy to see Lee leave. In a perfect world, the Islanders got both. In a reasonable world, the Isles got at least one. Isles are just fine still.
Also, this is no longer about Panarin; this is about the Islanders keeping their captain for the foreseeable future, after what happened the last offseason, that is a beautiful thing. The irony is, this is still part of a culture change, a change that people want to stay.