Oilers Should Target Anders Lee in Free Agency

We are now less than a month away from the new league year in the NHL, which means free agency opens up at the same time. It’ll be an important time for the Edmonton Oilers to address some needs, with one of those needs being an upgrade on the third line. A name that hasn’t been associated with the team that I believe should be is Anders Lee.

Lee has been a member of the New York Islanders since he was drafted by them in 2009. He has been the captain since 2018 and has been a big part of any success they’ve had the past decade and a half. It has recently been reported that there’s a good chance Lee is headed for the free agent market for the first time in his career. The Oilers will be considering all options on July 1. Why not Lee?

Playoff Experience

Since being drafted, Lee has reached the playoffs with the Islanders seven times, but the team doesn’t have a lot to show for it. Of those seven appearances, they were first-round exits three times, second-round exits twice, and third-round exits twice. It’s been a tough road beyond the regular season for the captain; however, his numbers still look good.

Lee has posted 21 points in 46 career playoff games. His best performance came in the Islanders’ run to the 2020 Eastern Conference Final, when he put up seven goals and 11 points in 22 contests. His most recent playoff series saw him record four points in five games. He has led this New York team many times, and despite the unfortunate result, his play has seemingly never faltered.

Playing the game for so long at a high level like Lee only makes the heart grow fonder for a chance at the Cup. If he moved to somewhere like Edmonton, it would likely be in a more reduced role than he’s seen in his career, but it might be something he wants if it means a better chance to play hockey in June.

Two-Way Forward

Lee’s playoff performance isn’t much different from how he’s played in the regular season over the years. Since becoming a full-time NHLer in 2014-15, he has recorded 36 or more points in each season except for one COVID-19 and injury-shortened campaign. His 2025-26 season saw him put up 19 goals and 42 points, with a team-leading 32.6 expected goals. He’s a very consistent offensive contributor, no matter who is alongside him.

The defensive game is also very strong for Lee. He is consistently at or above the 100-hit mark each season, though he was just under it in 2025-26. That aggressive approach brings savvy and strong puck-carrying abilities, too, which saw his giveaway numbers go down this season. While he is primarily a winger, his 53.7% efficiency in the faceoff dot is also his best in three seasons and a big draw for any interested teams looking for someone versatile.

The Oilers have question marks with their depth forwards right now. Adam Henrique, Jason Dickinson, and Jack Roslovic are among a slew of players set to hit the market, so there is space at the moment to consider a centre/left wing hybrid in the bottom-six. Lee fits the profile.

Established Leader

As talked about in the beginning, Lee has been a captain for almost a decade now. He’s been recognized for his abilities as a leader, too, winning the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2024. He may be turning 36 prior to the season’s start, but it’s not the first time Edmonton has made a move for a tenured veteran (see: Corey Perry, Duncan Keith, Mike Smith, and so on).

His age and the fact that he’s coming off a long-term deal also mean the Oilers should be able to sign him at a lower average annual value (AAV). His previous salary of $7 million certainly won’t be on the table from any team. The incentive of winning now also has to play a factor, as mentioned earlier.

Lee would be a great piece in Edmonton’s bottom six should they make a play for him. I think with his style of play and balanced game, along with the locker room presence he will add to an already stacked group of leaders, could be the perfect recipe for the Oilers’ forward group. We’ll see what general manager Stan Bowman and company think in a few weeks’ time when the market opens.