Anders Lee/Carsyn Winning Shot at Jam Kancer Event Through the opening 26 games in 2023-24, New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] captain Anders Lee had seven goals with three assists for 10 points. Through the opening 26 games in 2024-25, he has 11 goals and nine assists. On Tuesday, he scored the tying goal against the Montreal Canadiens, giving Lee goals in three straight games. It’s simple to point to playing time alongside Bo Horvat as a key part of his overall success. But from opening night, on the third line, we saw a different Lee. What's his secret? NEW OFFSEASON TRAINER Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMTYyMTAyNTQxMzMwMTA5/usatsi_24850643.jpg] This summer, Lee worked with Horvat’s trainer, Adam Oates, a former NHL player and former Washington Capitals head coach. "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." According to NHL Edge, Lee shot 13 percent on high-danger shots last year. So far this year, his high-danger shooting percentage is 19.3. The Oates in-tight finishing drills have paid off. STICK BRAND SWITCH Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMTYyMDMzMjg0OTgyNDYx/usatsi_24804478.jpg] Like Horvat, Lee also made the switch from Bauer to Warrior, his first brand switch in his NHL career. Below is an exclusive interview I did with Lee on his decision to make a change. Stefen Rosner: “Hey Anders, correct me if I’m wrong, but did you change your stick this summer?” Anders Lee: “Yeah, I made a switch this summer.” Rosner: “What went into that decision?” Lee: “I wanted to give it a go. I wanted to try something out. I had been a Bauer user forever and loved my sticks with Bauer. But I just wanted to see what else was out there. I hadn't really gone through that process before and ended up really falling in love with it over the summer, like the way it felt, and just went forward with it.” Rosner: “How does that process work? Do you just order a number of different brands and different sticks, hit the ice, and test that way?” Lee: “Yeah, exactly like that. You kind of work through them all. I ended up, probably, in my third or fourth sample of Warrior to get to where I wanted and what I liked out of it. I got to a place where I really liked how it felt.” Rosner: “Did anyone on the team tell you to try Warrior? Lee: “We’ve kind of been talking about it. We always take a look at other sticks, but up until that point, Bauer had always felt good to me, and I always liked how it felt. I know exactly what I get from them, and I love their product. But then, I just wanted to try some new stuff out. I tried some skates. I did not make a skate change. But, every once in a while, it’s good to see what’s out there and see if you feel better or worse, and I ended up making a switch.” Rosner: “Safe to say you are probably sticking with Warrior, haha?” Lee: “Yeah, it’s going great. Honestly, it’s been good, a nice little change-up. Sometimes, it’s no different looking at a different driver or putter. Sometimes, just the view or whatever you are looking at feels good in your hands. That’s what you roll with, and that’s when it ended up happening this summer.” NEW CONFIDENCE Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMTYyMDE3MTc4ODU1MTAx/usatsi_24702954-3.jpg] With success comes confidence, and there might not be a more confident player on the team right now. It always takes an ounce or two of confidence to go to the dirty areas, but we’ve seen Lee go to the net and win those net-front battles more often this year. After he wins those battles, his new techniques, learned from Oates, and his new stick have paid extreme dividends. We'll see where Lee winds up in the lineup when Anthony Duclair (lower body) and Mathew Barzal (upper body) return from their injuries. Right now, Lee is on pace for over 30 goals and 28 assists for 58 points, which would be the second-most productive season of his career.
