Anders Lee

Lore & Background

Lee was born in Edina, Minnesota, to Thomas and Lisa Lee. He excelled in football, ice hockey and baseball from a young age. In 2004, he transferred to Saint Thomas Academy high school, making the varsity ice hockey team as an eighth-grader and winning a Class A state championship in 2006. He transferred back to Edina High School in fall 2007, where he became starting quarterback and led the football team to a 10–1 record.

In hockey, he finished third in scoring with 54 points and helped the team to a 26–1 regular season and second-place finish in the Class AA state tournament. As a senior, he was named Minnesota Gatorade Football Player of the Year and was a finalist for Mr. Hockey. He committed to play hockey at Notre Dame.

Lee spent the 2009–10 season with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, leading the team in scoring and being named Playoff MVP and Rookie of the Year. At Notre Dame, he was the second-leading scorer as a freshman with 24 goals and 20 assists, helping the team reach the Frozen Four. He signed an entry-level contract with the Islanders on April 1, 2013, and made his NHL debut the next day, scoring on his first career shot.

After being reassigned to the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers early in the 2013–14 season, he led the team in scoring before being recalled. In the 2014–15 season, he became a mainstay on the 'Kid Line' with Ryan Strome and Brock Nelson, and later replaced Kyle Okposo on the top line with John Tavares and Josh Bailey. He finished the season with 25 goals and 16 assists in 76 games and was named NHL Rookie of the Month for February.

The Multi-Sport Phenomenon of Edina

Anders Lee grew up in Edina, Minnesota, where he became one of the state's most complete young athletes. As an eighth-grader at Saint Thomas Academy, he earned a varsity hockey spot and helped win a Class A state title in 2006. After transferring back to Edina High School in 2007, his junior year showcased remarkable versatility: he won the starting quarterback job, throwing for over 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns while the Hornets went 10-1. That winter, he finished third on the team in hockey scoring with 54 points and earned Pioneer Press All-State First Team honors.

In the spring, he pitched and played third base on the varsity baseball squad. His senior football season was even more explosive—he averaged nearly 309 yards of total offense per game, won the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year award, and held the state single-game all-purpose record with 581 yards. On the ice, he tallied 25 goals and 59 assists, and in the preseason Upper Midwest Elite League he posted 12 goals and 17 assists in just 18 games. Despite offers from Harvard and Minnesota for both football and hockey, Lee committed to Notre Dame to pursue a professional hockey path.

Notre Dame's Turnaround and the Frozen Four

Lee's college career at Notre Dame was defined by a remarkable team transformation. As a freshman in 2010-11, the Fighting Irish surged from a ninth-place finish the previous season to second in the CCHA, and Lee was a central figure in that turnaround. He scored a team-leading 24 goals with 20 assists for 44 points, second only to fellow freshman T.J. Tynan's 54. After a disappointing CCHA playoff exit, Notre Dame rallied to win the NCAA Northeast Region and advance to the Frozen Four, where they fell to eventual national champion Minnesota Duluth in the semifinals.

The following season, Lee again served as the team's second-leading scorer, posting 17 goals and 17 assists with a minus-one rating in 24 penalty minutes. The Fighting Irish finished eighth in the league and reached the tournament quarterfinals, defeating Ohio State in the opening round before falling to Michigan. Across two seasons, Lee established himself as a two-way offensive threat and a key contributor to one of the most memorable college hockey stories of that era.

The Late Draft Pick and Instant NHL Debut

The New York Islanders selected Lee in the sixth round, 151st overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft—a pick that surprised many given his high school production. Teams had hesitated to move up because they feared he might choose football over hockey, and some scouts raised concerns about his skating ability. After two seasons at Notre Dame, Lee signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Islanders on April 1, 2013. The very next day, he made his NHL debut against the Winnipeg Jets and scored his first career goal on his first career shot in the first period, helping New York to a 5-2 victory.

In his second game that season, he recorded his first NHL assist on the game-winning goal in a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite having just two games under his belt, the Islanders chose to burn the first year of his contract rather than save it for the following season. Entering the 2013-14 training camp, Lee was ultimately reassigned to the organization's AHL affiliate, a reminder that even a spectacular debut does not guarantee a permanent roster spot.

The Green Bay Gamblers Breakout

Before ever stepping onto an NHL ice, Lee posted a dominant season with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League during the 2009-10 campaign. He emerged as the team's leading scorer, collecting 35 goals and 31 assists across 59 games, while also posting a team-best plus-38 rating with just 54 penalty minutes. His performance earned him a selection to the 2010 USHL All-Star Game. The playoffs only amplified his impact: over 12 postseason contests, Lee scored 10 goals and added 12 assists while finishing plus-10, earning the tournament's Most Valuable Player honor.

He was also named the league's Rookie of the Year for the season. That breakout year validated the concerns that had kept him out of earlier draft rounds, proving he could produce at a high level against elite competition. It also set the stage for his subsequent arrival at Notre Dame, where he would become a key offensive weapon for the Fighting Irish.

Reader's Guide

Anders Lee's career with the New York Islanders is notable for his unexpected emergence as a reliable scorer after being a sixth-round draft pick. Many teams passed on him in the 2009 draft due to concerns he might choose football over hockey and questions about his skating. Lee proved those doubts unfounded by leading the USHL in scoring for Green Bay, then becoming a top rookie at Notre Dame. His NHL debut was remarkable: he scored on his first career shot in the first period.

After spending time in the AHL, he earned a permanent spot on the Islanders' 'Kid Line' and later on the top line with John Tavares. His 25-goal rookie season in 2014–15 helped the Islanders reach the playoffs. Lee's path from a high school quarterback and Mr. Hockey finalist to an NHL regular illustrates his athletic versatility and determination. His signing of a four-year contract extension as a restricted free agent after his rookie season solidified his place in the organization.