Ontario Reign: Andre Lee’s Season Review

That was the last NHL game for the 2019 seventh-round pick as he was loaned back to the Reign for the rest of the year to work on his game. Playing in the top nine for the Reign allowed him to do that, especially being strong down low and along the walls with his 6’4″ frame.

Lee finished the season with the Reign with 20 points (6 G, 14 A) in 48 games, primarily as Jack Studnicka’s winger, whether they were on the second or third line. Sturm used that line as a shutdown role when dictating the matchups on home ice against the opposing team’s best players. Ontario’s bench boss also went out of his way to praise him on several occasions for ‘doing the little things’ to help the team win. The organization gave him a two-year contract, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him serve as the 13th or 14th forward, given how they like him.

With the Kings being in win-now mode, I find it hard to see him in the lineup for all 82 games. I don’t expect him to be an everyday player in the future with his limited upside anyway, but having a seventh-round pick as useful depth to fill in isn’t bad value for that draft slot. If he doesn’t make the Kings roster, then he would need to clear waivers to be assigned to Ontario.