Chance he plays up to his $7mil cap hit is almost 0. The guy hasn't been a $7mil player since the last year of Tavares, although he had a chance in the year of his injury where he was on pace for the 30g/60p mark. Best case this year I'd say is 25g and like 45p.
The problem with Lee is that even if he scores 25g (which is not a given), he contributes almost nothing else offensively, plays below average D (because of lack of speed), and doesn't contribute to stuff like the PK or faceoffs. He looked engaged in the playoffs, but there were many many games during the regular season where it looked like he was skating through mud, and with teams like Carolina, NJ, and NYR in the division, it is hard to let such a slow player play 16+ minutes a night.
At the end of the day, this team was trying to win a cup from like 2019-2023 and Lou gave out contracts that would be bad around this time accordingly. I just hope that Lee plays well enough where maybe he can be shipped off at the deadline or draft with half retained for a pick, but likely he will play out the string and walk/retire after 2026.
If Tsyplakov doesn't turn out to be a top six LW, would you put Lee up with Nelson and Palmieri? Put Cizikas with Pageau and Fasching/Engvall/Wahlstrom.
I like the data that Matt provides in this video. That said, at this point I think Lee is better served as a 3rd line guy and 2nd unit PP. Keep his ice time to 13/14 minutes a night. I’d rather have a Lee who hustles for 13 minutes on the 3rd line and scores 15 goals than a Lee who plays 17 minutes and labours up and down the ice all night trying to keep up on the 2nd line.
He's not bouncing back on the third line. The only way he is "successful" is when he is plopped on the first line and stands in front of the net. But when he is not in front of the net, he is an anchor.
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Chance he plays up to his $7mil cap hit is almost 0. The guy hasn't been a $7mil player since the last year of Tavares, although he had a chance in the year of his injury where he was on pace for the 30g/60p mark. Best case this year I'd say is 25g and like 45p.
The problem with Lee is that even if he scores 25g (which is not a given), he contributes almost nothing else offensively, plays below average D (because of lack of speed), and doesn't contribute to stuff like the PK or faceoffs. He looked engaged in the playoffs, but there were many many games during the regular season where it looked like he was skating through mud, and with teams like Carolina, NJ, and NYR in the division, it is hard to let such a slow player play 16+ minutes a night.
At the end of the day, this team was trying to win a cup from like 2019-2023 and Lou gave out contracts that would be bad around this time accordingly. I just hope that Lee plays well enough where maybe he can be shipped off at the deadline or draft with half retained for a pick, but likely he will play out the string and walk/retire after 2026.
Yes he will I have confidence I have too and he has too
If Tsyplakov doesn't turn out to be a top six LW, would you put Lee up with Nelson and Palmieri? Put Cizikas with Pageau and Fasching/Engvall/Wahlstrom.
I like the data that Matt provides in this video. That said, at this point I think Lee is better served as a 3rd line guy and 2nd unit PP. Keep his ice time to 13/14 minutes a night. I’d rather have a Lee who hustles for 13 minutes on the 3rd line and scores 15 goals than a Lee who plays 17 minutes and labours up and down the ice all night trying to keep up on the 2nd line.
He's not bouncing back on the third line. The only way he is "successful" is when he is plopped on the first line and stands in front of the net. But when he is not in front of the net, he is an anchor.
He's getting bought out or traded next year anyway