Anders Lee is coming back to New York. But it won’t be until February 15, and he’ll be wearing a different sweater.
The longtime Islander signed with the Utah Mammoth in free agency this summer, ending a 13-year run with the only NHL franchise he’d ever known. That first trip back to UBS Arena is scheduled for a Monday afternoon in the middle of February, and honestly? It might be one of the biggest days on the NHL calendar for more than just the obvious emotional reasons.
Lee was drafted 152nd overall by the Islanders back in 2009, which feels like a lifetime ago. He didn’t crack the NHL full-time until the 2014-15 season, but once he did, he became a fixture. 923 games. Countless net-front battles. A captaincy. That’s a lot of history to walk away from. But the business side of hockey doesn’t care about history, and Utah came with an offer the Islanders couldn’t or wouldn’t match. So now Lee is a Mammoth, and he’ll face his old team for the first time on December 15 in Utah before the return trip to Long Island.
The February 15 date matters for another reason too. That’s the day Brent Burns could break the NHL’s Iron Man streak record, if he stays healthy through the first few months of the season. So you’ve got a former captain facing his old team on the same afternoon a future Hall of Famer might rewrite the league’s history books. Not bad for a Monday in February.
Lee’s first game with Utah comes on October 1 at home against Chicago. The Mammoth open the season with some home cooking before embarking on a nasty road trip starting October 3. They hit Columbus, then roll through New York to face the Rangers, Devils, Bruins, and Sabres before finally coming home on October 13 against the Maple Leafs. That’s a legit grind right out of the gate.
The Islanders, meanwhile, start their season on September 30 in Toronto. That one’s got some juice to it too. You’ve got reigning Calder winner Matthew Schaefer going up against top draft pick Gavin McKenna. Two young stars, two contrasting paths, one opening night matchup that people are already circling. Then they come home on October 3 to host the Devils for their home opener.
One other thing worth mentioning about Utah this year: they’re hosting the Winter Classic. New Year’s Eve at Rice-Eccles Stadium against Colorado. First time the Mammoth get to host the league’s premier outdoor event. That’s a big deal for the franchise, and it makes their first season in Utah feel even more significant.
Lee won’t be back on Long Island until mid-February. But when he gets there, it’ll be a moment worth watching. Love him or hate him for leaving, that guy gave the Islanders a lot of good years. And Islanders fans? They don’t forget their guys.
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