ANAHEIM, Calif. – Lou Lamoriello always argues for the use of time when it's available and there's certainly no pressing deadline to reach a contract extension with captain Anders Lee.
But there seems little to be gained by waiting for the Feb. 25 trade deadline to force the issue or, gasp, the opening of the free-agent market on July 1. The Islanders, before Lamoriello assumed ironclad control as president and general manager, played that losing game last season with former captain John Tavares, though with enough blame to be spread on both sides.
In Lee the Islanders have a 28-year-old, 40-goal scorer who makes no ambiguity about his long-term commitment to the organization and whose line with fellow contract-seekers Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle easily has been the team’s best four games into the new season.