New York Islanders [http://thn.com/isles] captain Anders Lee [https://www.theelmonters.com/p/anders-lee-adam-oates-training-islanders] is entering the final season of a seven-year deal worth $7 million annually. After a resurgent season, posting 29 goals for a career-high 25 assists and a career-high 54 points, the 35-year-old, most significant question is what his value is going forward and what direction the new general manager, Mathieu Darche, wants to take. Since Darche has come aboard, he has re-signed all of his pending restricted free agents, except for 25-year-old defenseman Noah Dobson, whom he shipped to the Montreal Canadiens after a contract could not be agreed upon. Darche made it clear that he wasn't going to trade centerman Jean-Gabriel Pageau ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft or during free agency. Like Lee, Pageau is entering the final season of his deal, which carries a $5 million AAV. Here's what Darche said to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun [https://x.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/1964316498383478977] when it came to contract negotiations with his captain: "I said to him, ‘Let’s start the year and see where it goes,’” Darche said. “There’s no urgency on his side, on my side. He’s the captain of our team, and I really like the individual. But I’m new to the team, right? There’s no one that’s on an expiring deal, that has one year left, that I’ve re-signed. It’s not because I don’t want to, I had enough on my plate this summer. I’ve got a great relationship with Anders.’’ The expectation was always that Darche was going to take, at least, the first half of the season to evaluate his roster. So, not signing Lee or any of his players entering contract years just yet makes complete sense.
