Kyle Garcia 
With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Andre Lee!
Andre Lee
Birthdate: July 26, 2000
Birthplace: Karlstad, Sweden
Height: 6’4
Weight: 205 lbs
Position: Left wing
Shoots: Left
Draft: 7th round, 188th overall, 2019 NHL Entry Draft
2023-24 season
The season didn’t get off on the right foot for the big Swedish forward. In a preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks, Lee suffered a lower-body injury that forced him to miss the rest of the preseason and the first 12 games of the regular season for the Ontario Reign. Making his season debut on November 17th, Lee scored two goals in a Reign 5-4 shootout loss to the Calgary Wranglers.
.@Andrelee71 is absolutely KILLING it tonight!#ReignTrain | #CGYvsONT | @flyONT pic.twitter.com/MwmIIMEyTt
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 18, 2023
Lee wouldn’t score again until January 16th, when he scored two goals in a 4-3 Reign road victory over the Abbotsford Canucks. Unfortunately, Lee would miss two months of game action when he suffered a right leg injury on January 21st against the Bakersfield Condors. He would return to the Reign lineup for the final nine regular season games and record six points (4G-2A) in that span. For the season, he finished with 13 points (8G-5A) in 36 games.
The hot streak at the end of the regular season carried over into the playoffs where he finished with four goals, which was good for second on the team (Tyler Madden led the team with five). All four of his goals came at five-on-five, which led the team.
LEE GETS IT DONE!!!#AllAboard | #BAKvsONT pic.twitter.com/DggAjQ9JOq
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 25, 2024
2024-25 outlook
Lee signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Kings for the upcoming campaign. With many roster spots already filled on the Kings, I expect Lee to start the year in Ontario again. The 2024-25 season will be his last year of being waiver-exempt.
✍️✍️✍️
We have signed F Andre Lee to a one-year, two-way contract!
FULL RELEASE 📲📰 https://t.co/qBvACk4VsI pic.twitter.com/ttxXpZReSU
— LA Kings (@LAKings) June 5, 2024
ALLEE-BOARD! Forward Andre Lee has signed a one-year contract extension with the @LAKings! 🙌
📰 https://t.co/AcpMFI8oUa pic.twitter.com/blKPFZA854— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) June 5, 2024
After missing time twice due to lower-body injuries, a healthy season for Lee will be key. With Ontario I expect him to play in the bottom six, see time on the penalty kill, and if needed, play as the front net man on the second power-play unit. If Lee wants to have a future in LA, getting stronger and physical with a healthy season could help his case for the future.
Hayden Hodgson with his first ALSO on the Power Play#ReignTrain | #COLvsONT | @NetworkAccident pic.twitter.com/HwUP2c0A23
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) December 17, 2023
Goal 3 by Lee!#ReignTrain | #ONTvsHSK pic.twitter.com/tzijIGs68x
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 4, 2024
Featured image credit: Mike Zitek/Ontario Reign