The New York Islanders want to believe that they are capable of contending for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and that seems to be the case as team captain Anders Lee is now excited to see the team come out and emerge as a leading team to look out for en route to the 2024-25 season with a few tweaks in the squad moving forward.

For Lee, there is indeed a shift in the wind for the Islanders as their sails have been redirected towards a much more promising campaign that would see them make more winning strides and make a much deeper run in the playoffs at this point. The captain is certain that there’s a lot to look forward to for the team in almost every regard, which sparks an impressive confidence for them.

The Metropolitan Division is a crowded bunch in the East. The New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes battle for dominance, while the Islanders lurk in the shadows, waiting to strike their chances in the game. It is also worth noting that there are several challengers coming up in that regard, with the New Jersey Devils starting to show hints of higher contention in the coming campaign.

Improvement Under Patrick Roy

The Islanders finished third under Patrick Roy – who was hired in the middle of the season to replace Lane Lambert in January. New York ended up with a 39-27-16 record and lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in just five games in the Eastern Conference First Round. It is worth noting that the Islanders were initially falling out of the playoff race that time, and their shot at the postseason was a result of a late season push.

“When Patty came in, he came in with an intensity and focus and an energy that was just really infectious throughout our group,” Lee said. “I think we took that and ran with it, and now we get to start the season off with him in a fresh start. We get a full offseason for everyone to get settled in and for him to put us through camp and get us ready to go.”

It is easy to say that Anders Lee is definitely seeing the squad click well under Patrick Roy, who has helped the Islanders configure its roster with more focus on the defensive end and creating two-way plays that benefitted them well.

A New Pairing

Aside from the expectations of playing a full season under Roy, Lee is also keen to see how his new pairing with Anthony Duclair would turn out to be coming into the 2024-25 season. The former Tampa Bay Lightning and San Jose Sharks star shined bright last season with 42 points on 24 goals and 18 assists in just 73 games. The 28-year-old is slated to give the Islanders a boost on the top-six spot heading into the season.

“Having Anthony come in, it’s huge for us,” Lee said. “He brings a big element to our team with the speed and playmaking, and he’s been around a long time and has seen a lot of hockey. So, he’s going to be very welcomed in our room.”

At this point, the Islanders pretty much look like the same as they did last season, with just a few changes. This year is something that the team needs to build on if they are going to compete at the highest level once more.