Anders Lee has signed a three-year contract with the Mammoth worth an average annual value of $5.4 million, according to reports. This move comes hours after the opening of free agency and marks the end of Lee's 14-year tenure with the Islanders, which included the last eight seasons as the team's captain.
The Islanders and general manager Mathieu Darche had reportedly improved their offer shortly before Lee informed them Tuesday of his intention to explore the free agent market. While a return to the Islanders remained a possibility, the two sides were unable to reach a compromise.
Last season, Lee recorded 19 goals and 42 points. This marked the first full campaign since the 2015-16 season that he did not reach at least 20 goals. He provided production for an Islanders team that experienced a late-season collapse, leading to the firing of coach Patrick Roy with four games remaining in the regular season. The team ultimately missed the playoff cutline by eight points.