Islanders Taking Committee Approach to Anders Lee's Absence

No one player can replace all of what Anders Lee brings to the New York Islanders, so in order to fill the void left by
Lee's lower-body injury
, which will keep the captain out for an extended period, the Islanders are going use a committee approach.
"You're not going to replace Anders Lee," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "He's a very unique player and he's a leader. We've done everything by committee for the most part. It'll take a village to fill a void. We have a group that's willing to do that and can do that."

Lee suffered the lower-body injury in the first period of
Thursday's 5-3 win
over the New Jersey Devils, tangling up awkwardly with Pavel Zacha before being helped off the ice. Trotz said Lee, who had played 295 consecutive games for the Islanders (the third-longest streak in team history), won't be with the team for a little while.
Lee leaves a big hole to fill for the Islanders, as he led the team with 12 goals and was second in team scoring with 19 points. The 30-year-old made up one-third of the Islanders potent trio with Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle and is one of the premier net-front players in the game, utilizing his 6'3, 235 lbs. frame to screen goalies and win puck battles.

"He's unique in the way he plays," Trotz said. "He's unique in his body type and he's special when it comes to leadership. It's not like he's not around, he's still the captain, he'll still have presence, but we're going to miss him on the ice. He's been one of the top four or five guys in the NHL at net-front and that's a hole that's hard to fill. There are not many guys that do it extremely well like he does."
Trotz did not reveal who would go into Lee's spot alongside Barzal and Eberle, but said he's trying to minimize the disruption down the lineup of having to break up another unit. The Islanders coach rotated a cast of wingers in Lee's place on Thursday, giving Anthony Beauvillier, Michael Dal Colle and JG Pageau a few shifts alongside Barzal and Eberle. Trotz said Kieffer Bellows, Ross Johnston and Leo Komarov were all viable options to enter the fold.
Eberle, who has nine goals this season, said he was comfortable and confident with whoever winds up on his line.
"We have a lot of guys and a lot of skill and a lot of players who can fill, obviously not to Anders role, but a lot of guys who can fill into that spot and we can still have success," Eberle said. "You look at our team and the way we've won games over the past three years we've done it by committee."

On the power play, the coaching staff subbed Matt Martin into Lee's spot in front of the net on Thursday during the teams' first man advantage without their captain, but that'll be another spot where different players will get an opportunity to seize a new, or bigger role.
"Matt has good hockey IQ, a big body, he's got courage and strength around the net," Trotz said. "He's been able to do some stuff in small spaces, scoring some goals and the last couple of years, so we'll start there. I think there's opportunity for a guy like Kieffer Bellows, Ross Johnston or even a Leo Komarov, who has lots of courage and a good stick around the net and is not scared to go there. I think there are opportunities for all those types of guys, especially in the interior where Lee usually plays."
Lee hasn't missed a game since Jan. 24, 2017, so while the Islanders haven't had to play without one of their emotional leaders in over four years, they plan to take a committee approach to filling the leadership void as well.
"He's the head of the snake when he's in, but there's a lot of experience here," Cal Clutterbuck said. "Guys who know how to handle different situations, we have a good core group of guys who know what's up, so we'll try and pick up the slack without him."

The Islanders have won seven-straight games and are currently in first place in the East Division, so while the teams is concerned for its captain, the focus remains on continuing to move forward,
starting on Saturday night
with a back-to-back set against the New Jersey Devils.
"You're not going to pick up all the slack of one guy individually the biggest thing is everyone is going to have to chip in," Eberle said. "We have an opportunity against the Devils to continue to climb up the standings and have to learn to do it without Anders."