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Injury Update: Anders Lee to undergo surgery to repair ACL, out for rest of season

We all feared it. But now that it has been confirmed, Lou can go shopping for a winger.

By Steven E. Smith
New Jersey Devils v New York Islanders
Torn ACL on a fluky play. Hockey, man.
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Anders Lee will be out for the remainder of the 2021 season, including the playoffs, assuming that the Islanders qualify.

Lou Lamoriello met with the media this morning to announce that Lee tore his ACL. He will undergo surgery to repair it later this week.

Here’s a link to Lamoriello’s media availability, plus a Twitter sampling below:

As ACL tears go, Lamoriello claimed that Lee’s rehab should be smoother than that of other knee injuries, as only the ACL was damaged. And they expect him to fully recover in time for next season.

Still, though, ACL injuries can ruin careers. I’m speculating here, but a guy like Lee—a big, lumbering skater whose strength in front of the net comes from his thick, tree-trunk legs—might be susceptible to something like that. But Lamoriello’s announcement brings me some comfort that Lee will be fine next year. Get well soon, captain.

In the meantime, the Islanders need to supplement their lineup with another scoring winger. Luckily, Lamoriello says he is on the case.

Interestingly, he said that they had been scouring the market even before the Lee injury. But he certainly will ramp up his search now.

Pierre LeBrun says that he expects Lamoriello to look into all the big names on the market.

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