Season Preview: Anders Lee

Anders Lee

Position: C

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 212 lbs

Birthdate: July 3rd, 1990 (21 years old)

Birthplace: St. Paul, Minnesota, United States

Acquired: Draft, 6th round, 152nd overall, 2009 NHL Entry Draft

2010-2011 Team: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (CCHA)

2010-2011 Stats: 44 GP - 24 G - 20 A - 44 P - 16 PIM

2011-2012 Team: Notre Dame Fighting Irish 

Team Role: Top 6 Forward

Last year: Lee completed his freshman year at Notre Dame last year as an older 20 year old. That said, he put together an outstanding freshman campaign scoring 24 goals and averaging exactly one point per game over the course of the 44 game season. Lee was a major reason the Irish were able to finish in the Frozen Four last year, scoring the game winning goal in overtime in the first round against Merrimack (and adding another goal in the same game). 

Expectations: Now 21 years old entering his sophomore season, Lee and the Irish are a more experienced team. They have proven they can make it to the Frozen Four and will surely want to improve on that to win a national championship. Lee will certainly want to improve on his great freshman stats, and will definitely get the opportunity to do so. Lee is joined this year by 2011 Isles draft pick Robbie Russo, who is entering in a promising freshman class for the Irish. Up front, led by T.J. Tynan, Riley Sheahan and Billy Maday, Lee joins a formidable group of forwards who will push to take the Irish to the next level.

Projections: 41 GP - 27 G - 17 A - 44 P - 24 PIM

Thoughts: 

CH: It is really hard to imagine Lee drastically improving on such an impressive rookie season in the CCHA. However, I do think he is capable of increasing his goal total. After watching him at rookie camp, you could tell that Lee has some serious potential. After dropping in the draft because of his offers to join some college football programs, Lee decided on hockey and chose to play in the USHL a year before heading to Notre Dame on a hockey - not football - scholarship. He did anything but disappoint there, and it is easy to see why. While Lee is not the strongest skater - he has anything but a pretty stride - he hockey sense is off the charts. During the games I saw of him at both college in the Isles prospect scrimmage, Lee knows his size and heads to one place in the offensive zone. In front of the net. These instincts, along with his great hands, have and will do Lee well over the years. I look forward to see how he does in his sophomore year, because if it is anything like his freshman year, it will surely be a sight to see.

AT: Always criticized for his skating skills, what Anders Lee showed this year in the Blue and White scrimmage and in his rookie season at Notre Dame has proven everything we've known about him to be wrong. Strong(er) skating, great puck possession skills, fantastic two-way play, a nice shot, great hockey sense (and to think he could've played football!), and skilled hands. While Lee joins a myriad of centers in the Islanders organization right now, it is hard to see him not finding a role in Bridgeport fairly soon. He still has many things left to develop at Notre Dame and plenty of time to do it, but I love what we saw this year and hope to see more.