NHL free agency: 5 teams that should sign Anders Lee

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee will be one of the most sought-after free agents on July 1st. Here are the five best landing spots for the veteran standout.

The New York Islanders were one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2018-19 season, finishing second in the Metropolitan Division with 103 points. They went on to sweep the powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round of the playoffs, but their magical season came to an end with a surprise sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes in round two.

Now, the goal is for the Islanders to try and build on top of a highly successful season by keeping most of the core intact. They re-signed two key UFAs in Jordan Eberle and Brock Nelson, but now the Isles have to focus on retaining captain Anders Lee.

Lee, who turns 29 soon, is coming off another excellent season in which he scored 28 goals and 51 points. It was a bit of a drop from the career-high 40 goals and 62 points he tallied last season, but Lee still finished fourth in team scoring this year.

Keeping Lee has to be a priority for the Islanders, but if the two sides can’t reach a deal, you know that there will be a handful of teams lining up for his services in free agency. Most of the top contenders won’t be able to afford Lee as they deal with salary cap issues.

However, there are a handful of up-and-coming teams that have the cap space and the incentives to go after Lee. Here are the five best bits for the New York captain.