After returning from a torn ACL, Anders Lee is in a prime position to score at least 30 goals this season. Given the severity of his injury, one may expect him to take some time to get back into his groove. However, he scored twice in his two preseason appearances and once in his first NHL game. Since he evidently is fully healed and perhaps playing with a chip on his shoulder, Lee should return to his old scoring ways, putting at least 30 pucks in the back of the net.

Power-Play Presence

The Islanders desperately missed Lee on the power play during most of last season and the postseason, as it was an obvious weakness to their championship-caliber team. Now that he is back, he will be on the ice for the majority of the Islanders’ power play opportunities. Given the Islanders’ apparent desire to generate more shots on goal, Lee has a clear path to a high goal total: capitalizing on rebounds. Also, puck movement seems to be a priority on the power play. If the playmakers on the outside, such as Mathew Barzal and Kyle Palmieri, get the goalie to move side-to-side, the net will inevitably be open for Lee.

Offensive-Minded Linemates

Lee is the first line left wing next to center Mat Barzal and right wing Kyle Palmieri, both of whom are individuals looking to get the puck to the net. Palmieri often shoots the puck from various angles to generate offense. As Palmieri continues to get pucks to the net, Lee will have more opportunities to put pucks past the goaltender.

Barzal is a generational skater who grabs the attention of all defensemen around the league. He has fabulous puck control and edge work, which creates chaos in the offensive zone. Defensemen are likely to pick up the speedster as he works around the slot, potentially leaving Lee uncovered in front of the net. 

Barzal and Palmieri are both known to create offense on their own. Given that Lee’s production is heavily dependent on the offense his linemates can generate, having two highly talented offensive players will boost his goal total.

Motivation

Lee was injured during last season’s playoff run that took them to Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, which they ultimately lost. A lot of Islanders fans and knowledgable sources around the NHL indicated that if Lee were in the Islanders lineup, they likely would have defeated the Lightning and potentially would have won the Stanley Cup.

The Islanders were struggling out of the gate, but early-season struggles have been a common theme for Barry Trotz’s Islanders, as they started slow in all of his four years. As the Islanders start generating more scoring chances, Lee will begin to heat up.

In the John Tavares era, Lee broke the 30 goal mark twice and even reached 40 goals in the 2017-18 season. He has yet to break 30 goals since Tavares departed, but in his last full season he recorded 28 goals. This is the year that Lee takes charge, breaks the 30 goal mark, and leads the Islanders to the playoffs and beyond. 

John Smark