Stefen Rosner on Morning Cuppa Hockey Talking Islanders Despite reaching the 20-goal mark for a third straight season, New York Islanders captain Anders Lee didn't have the greatest of 2023-24 seasons. Lee, a top-line winger, went from 50 points (28 goals, 22 assists) in 2022-23 to just 37 points (20 goals, 17 assists) in 2023-24 as a bottom-six forward. While there were no official reports that the Islanders were trying to move their captain, his name did come up in trade rumors and even as a potential buyout option. Those conversations are now over because in 2024-25, when the Islanders are without two-thirds of their top line and the entirety of the left side of their defense, Lee has turned back the clocks. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwNzg4OTUyODI5ODYzOTEz/usatsi_24702954-2.jpg] Through 18 games, Lee has seven goals, which is in a three-way tie for the team lead with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri) and six assists for 13 points, which ranks third. Since Mathew Barzal went down on Oct. 30, Lee, now playing on the top line with Bo Horvat and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, has points in six of the last eight games with four goals and six assists over that span. "He's been great," Horvat told The Hockey News. "He's finding those areas, those loose pucks in front and in those dirty areas. I mean, he's always been there, but I think he's just getting rewarded for it this year. "I'm happy for him, and he's playing some really good hockey right now." While Horvat won't take credit for Lee's success, the captain's offseason training this past summer was different, in large part due to Bo. For the last handful of years, Horvat has trained with former NHL player and Washington Capitals head coach Adam Oates. This summer, Lee worked with Oates, and it's clearly paying dividends. "I kind of pushed it," Horvat said with a laugh about getting Lee enrolled in the Oates program. "I've been working with Adam for three or four years, and he's really helped my game in different areas. "We were doing drills in practice last year, ones that I did with Oates, and I think Lee liked it." Horvat and Lee aren't the same players, but they both have to be able to get shots off quickly from in-tight to be effective. "He just joined this summer, and it's been paying off so far," Horvat added. "Oates' training gives us a different way of looking at the game. Anders is one of those guys that just wants to get better and if you have somebody out there, besides players in the room, to help you get better, why not try it? And I think it's paid off." Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwNzg4OTMwMjgxMjg1NjA5/usatsi_20513445-2.jpg] We'll see what happens with Lee's minutes once the Islanders do get healthy, but right now, he is on pace for around 60 points this season, with around 31 goals and 27 assists, A 60-point campaign would be the second best of Lee's career, hitting 52 points in 2017-18, where he potted a career-high 40 goals with 22 assists. His 31 goals would be the most since that season. With 60 shots on goal, Lee is also on pace for 273 shots this season, which would shatter his career-high of 214 from 2022-23. Because of how well Lee has played, there's certainly a case to be made that he should remain with Horvat when everyone is back healthy.
