Anders Lee Bio
Anders Mark Lee is an American professional ice hockey player who serves as the captain and left wing for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on July 3, 1990, in Edina, Minnesota, Lee has established himself as one of the most consistent goal scorers in the NHL over his career with the Islanders organization. The New York Islanders selected Lee in the sixth round, 151st overall, during the 2009 NHL entry draft. He played collegiate hockey at the University of Notre Dame before beginning his professional career with the Islanders in 2013. Known for his scoring ability and leadership qualities, Lee was named the 15th captain in Islanders franchise history following the departure of John Tavares in 2018.
Early Life and Background
Lee was born in Edina, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, to Thomas and Lisa Lee. From an early age, he excelled in multiple sports, demonstrating particular talent in football, ice hockey, and baseball. In 2004, Lee transferred to Saint Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, where he made the varsity ice hockey team as an eighth-grader. He was part of the team that won the Class A high school hockey tournament championship in 2006. In the fall of 2007, Lee transferred back to Edina High School to play with teammates he had grown up with, a rare move from private to public school at that level.
During his junior year at Edina High School, Lee made an immediate impact in both football and hockey. As the starting quarterback for the Edina Hornets, he passed for 2,049 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading the team to a 10-1 record. In hockey, he recorded 54 points (32 goals and 22 assists), earning Pioneer Press All-State First Team honors and helping the Hornets reach the Class AA 2008 state hockey tournament championship game. As a senior, Lee had a breakout year, passing for 2,007 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 1,105 yards and 32 touchdowns, averaging 308.7 yards of offense per game. He was named the 2008 Minnesota Gatorade Football Player of the Year and Star Tribune All-Metro Player of the Year. Lee held the state record for most all-purpose yards in a game, gaining 581 yards in a game against Hopkins High School.
Path to Hockey
While Lee was offered opportunities to play both football and hockey at prestigious programs like Harvard and the University of Minnesota, he ultimately chose to pursue hockey at the University of Notre Dame. Before joining the Fighting Irish, Lee played one season with the Green Bay Gamblers in the United States Hockey League (USHL). He was the team’s leading scorer with 35 goals and 31 assists in 59 games, posting a team-best plus-38 plus-minus rating. Lee was selected to the 2010 All-Star Game and was named USHL Playoff MVP after recording 10 goals and 12 assists in 12 playoff contests. He was also recognized as the league’s Rookie of the Year for that season.
Lee began his collegiate career at Notre Dame during the 2010-11 season, immediately making an impact as a freshman. He was the second-leading scorer for the Fighting Irish in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), recording a team-leading 24 goals with 20 assists for 44 points. Notre Dame experienced a turnaround that season, finishing second in the CCHA after placing ninth the previous year. The team advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four, losing to the University of Minnesota Duluth in the semifinals. As a sophomore during the 2011-12 season, Lee continued his strong play, scoring 17 goals with 17 assists and helping Notre Dame reach the league tournament quarterfinals.
Anders Lee Career
Early Career (2013-2014)
Lee concluded his collegiate career on April 1, 2013, by signing a two-year, entry-level contract with the New York Islanders. He made his NHL debut the following day against the Winnipeg Jets, scoring his first career NHL goal on his first career shot in the first period to help lead the Islanders to a 5-2 win. Lee appeared in two games for the Islanders that season, tallying his first NHL assist on the game-winning goal in a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. After participating in his first Islanders training camp ahead of the 2013-14 season, he was reassigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, on September 30, 2013.
Lee made an immediate impact with the Sound Tigers, leading the team in scoring with 22 goals and 19 assists through the first half of the season. His strong play earned him a recall to the NHL level on February 24, 2014. As he continued to show his offensive output at the NHL level, Lee began to earn recognition as a potential linemate for John Tavares and Kyle Okposo.
Breakthrough and Establishment (2014-2018)
The 2014-15 season marked Lee’s official rookie year with the Islanders after beginning the season with the Sound Tigers. He was quickly called up to the NHL on October 22, scoring the opening goal in his first game of the season against the Dallas Stars. Lee became a mainstay in the Islanders lineup, playing primarily on the “Kid Line” with Ryan Strome and Brock Nelson while also earning time on the team’s top power play unit. After Okposo was injured in late January, Lee replaced him on the top line with Tavares and Josh Bailey. By mid-February, Lee ranked second on the team with 19 goals and tied for second in goals scored among all league rookies. He led all rookies in February with 15 points and six game-winning goals, earning NHL Rookie of the Month honors. Lee finished the season with 25 goals and 16 assists for 41 points through 76 games, helping the Islanders clinch a playoff berth.
Following the 2014-15 season, Lee signed a four-year contract extension to remain with the Islanders. The 2015-16 season saw him split time between the first and second lines due to lineup adjustments. While Lee began the season slowly, he steadily improved before suffering a broken fibula during a game against the New York Rangers on April 7, which ended his season. He finished with 15 goals and 36 points through 80 games.
The 2016-17 season brought a career breakthrough for Lee. After a slow start, he experienced a career year while playing mostly on a line with team captain John Tavares and Josh Bailey. Lee scored a career-high 34 goals with 18 assists for 52 points through 82 games. His efforts earned him the Bob Nystrom Award, given to the Islander who best exemplifies leadership, hustle, and dedication. The following season (2017-18), Lee served as left wing on the first line with Bailey and Tavares. He was the Islanders’ leading scorer with 40 goals, tied for seventh-most in the NHL during the regular season, adding 22 assists for 62 total points. His outstanding performance led to his nomination for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy on April 23, 2018.
Captaincy and Present Day (2018-Present)
Following John Tavares’ departure to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the summer of 2018, Lee was named the 15th captain in New York Islanders franchise history at the beginning of the 2018-19 season. On July 1, 2019, Lee signed a landmark seven-year, $49 million contract with the Islanders, effective through the 2025-26 season with an average annual value of $7 million. This contract secured Lee as a cornerstone player for the franchise’s future.
During the 2020-21 season, Lee suffered a significant injury when he sustained a torn ACL after a collision with New Jersey Devils forward Pavel Zacha on March 11, 2021. The Islanders announced on March 17, 2021, that Lee would miss the remainder of the season to undergo surgery. He returned the following season and achieved his first NHL hat-trick on March 10, 2022, in a 6-0 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, demonstrating his continued ability to contribute offensively.
Playing Style and Strengths
Lee is known as a versatile power forward who combines size at 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds with strong scoring ability. His left-shot style and physical presence make him effective in front of the net and along the boards. Throughout his career, Lee has been utilized on both the top power play unit and at even strength, showcasing his ability to contribute in various situations. His leadership qualities, recognized through the Bob Nystrom Award, have been integral to his role as team captain. Lee’s consistency as a goal scorer, including multiple 30-plus goal seasons, has made him a reliable offensive contributor for the Islanders.
Notable Events and Milestones
Several defining moments have shaped Lee’s career with the Islanders. His NHL debut goal on April 2, 2013, came on his first career shot against the Winnipeg Jets, establishing his scoring ability at the highest level. Earning Rookie of the Month honors in February 2015 solidified his place in the NHL. The 2017-18 season saw him reach the 40-goal milestone while being nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. As captain, Lee has been the emotional leader of a team that reached the NHL semifinals in the 2020 and 2021 playoffs. His first career hat-trick against Columbus in March 2022 represented a personal milestone after returning from injury.
Anders Lee Career Wins
Throughout his NHL career, Lee has accumulated significant statistical achievements across regular seasons and playoffs with the New York Islanders organization.
New York Islanders Highlights
Lee’s most productive season came in 2017-18 when he led the Islanders with 40 goals, ranking seventh in the entire NHL. His 34-goal performance in 2016-17 earned him the Bob Nystrom Award for leadership. The 2014-15 rookie season saw him record 25 goals while earning Rookie of the Month honors in February. Throughout his career, Lee has been a consistent 20-plus goal scorer, including his recent seasons as team captain. His playoff experience includes multiple rounds with the Islanders, including their runs to the NHL semifinals in 2020 and 2021.
College and Junior Achievements
Before his NHL career, Lee achieved success at multiple levels. With the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL, he was named Rookie of the Year and Playoff MVP during the 2009-10 season. At the University of Notre Dame, he helped lead the Fighting Irish to the NCAA Frozen Four as a freshman, scoring 24 goals to lead the team. His high school career included a state hockey championship with Saint Thomas Academy in 2006 and recognition as a Mr. Hockey Award finalist in 2009.
Anders Lee Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Lee was born to Thomas and Lisa Lee in Edina, Minnesota. His family has connections to athletics beyond hockey. His cousin is football player Ryan Connelly, who played college football at the University of Wisconsin. Lee also has a nephew named Braylon Lee who plays hockey for Maple Grove. The athletic talent appears to run in the family, with multiple members pursuing sports at various levels.
Personal Life
Lee is married to Grace Lee, and together they have two daughters, born in March 2020 and November 2021. The family resides primarily on Long Island during the hockey season. Beyond his playing career, Lee has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service, particularly in the fight against childhood cancer. He established a partnership with Jam Kancer in the Kan after meeting cancer patient Fenov Pierre-Louis at one of their events. Lee has hosted several fundraising events for the organization, raising over $300,000 for childhood cancer research. Following Pierre-Louis’ passing in 2018, Lee established the Fenov Pierre-Louis Memorial Scholarship, which he awards annually to five high school seniors. Lee earned a degree in Management Consulting from the University of Notre Dame.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season represents another chapter in Lee’s tenure as captain of the New York Islanders. Entering his eighth season as team captain, Lee continues to provide veteran leadership and offensive production from the left wing position. His experience and scoring ability remain valuable assets as the organization aims to return to playoff contention in a competitive Eastern Conference. The Islanders’ blend of veteran leadership from Lee alongside emerging young talent positions them for continued competitiveness. With his contract running through the 2025-26 season, Lee’s future with the franchise appears secure as both a player and a leader in the locker room.
