Islanders captain Anders Lee will undergo surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament and be out for the rest of the season, team president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said on Wednesday morning.
Lamoriello said Lee did not suffer any other complications in his right knee when he was injured against the Devils last Thursday and should be able to return at full strength next season. He expressed confidence in the team’s leadership and skill to be able to overcome the loss of Lee, who had been the Islanders’ leading goal scorer.
The Islanders announced before Sunday’s shootout win over the Devils that they were placing Lee on long-term injured reserve retroactive to Thursday, raising the possibility that he would be unable to return in the regular season.