New York Islanders: How Jordan Eberle’s contract affects Anders Lee

The New York Islanders recently re-signed Jordan Eberle to a five-year deal. What does this tell us about their negotiations with team captain Andres Lee?

Anders Lee is looking for a huge payday. After four seasons with a $3.75 million cap hit, he will be looking to get rewarded for his points production. Keeping him will be a top priority for the New York Islanders for many reasons.

First of all, he’s the captain and losing the team’s captain to free agency for two straight seasons will devastate the fan base. Secondly, Lee can score, and goals are very hard to come by in today’s NHL.

According to Cap Friendly, the Islanders have a little over $22 million in cap space, but they have six UFAs and two RFAs to deal with.

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UFAs

• Anders Lee
• Thomas Kuhnhackl
• Valtteri Filppula
• Luca Sbisa
• Dennis Seidenberg
• Robin Lehner

RFAs

• Anthony Beauvillier
• Michael Dal Colle

The Islanders will be trying especially hard to keep Lee and Lehner. Filppula won’t cost much as he is a bottom six forward and 35 years old, but Lehner will be looking for a major payday. Last summer, he signed a one-year deal at $1.5 million to prove his worth. Lehner recorded the best season of his career and is a Vezina Trophy Finalist. He will want his money.

Beauvillier is a promising young piece who will be looking for an increase in his contract and all this leaves us with the question, what about Lee? Eberle’s pay cut certainly spared the Islanders some cap space to work with, but it still depends on what kind of money Lee wants right now.

Lee is 28 years old and is in the prime of his career. Last season he scored 28 times and the year before that, he scored 40. He’s going to want a contract with the maximum term and apparently, the Islanders are not willing to give him that.

General Manager Lou Lamoriello is a very secretive general manager so there is not a lot known about the contract negotiations, but the one thing that got out was that New York wasn’t interested in signing a max term deal.

With free agent Jeff Skinner signing an eight-year deal at 9 million a season with the Buffalo Sabres, this could influence Lee’s decision as he knows that he can get a similar contract on the open market.

At Lee’s age, a long-term contract is very important as he wants to ensure that he can stay in the league past his prime years. If the Islanders don’t offer that, he will definitely go to the open market.

However, seeing Eberle take a pay cut to stay with the team and seeing the fans riot against John Tavares for leaving the team might alter his decision as well. No one likes being the villain and maybe he will take a big pay cut to sign a long-term deal with New York.

Lee is facing the tough decision of either: Going to the open market and getting his due (knowing full well that he will be public enemy #2) or taking a pay cut to stay with the Islanders for a long time.

What do you guys think Lee should do? Get his well-deserved money or stay with his team? Let us know down in the comments!