Lou Lamoriello and the New York Islanders have played hardball with captain Anders Lee.

While the two sides remain in communication, with Lee’s stated interest in returning to Long Island, as each day passes the likelihood increases that Lee will be on the move.

Sound familiar?

Lee, of course, is no John Tavares. But the Islanders are definitely in danger of watching their captain walk in free agency for the second summer in a row.

The Edina, Minn., native Lee has been linked to his hometown Minnesota Wild, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Colorado Avalanche so far.

For months, the hang-up has seemingly been in the difference between what the Islanders are willing to pay versus what the changing market will likely bear for Lee. The market has shifted in the last 12 months and Lee stands to earn more than what the Islanders envisioned.

In fact, the math would say Lee’s closest comparable in the “new” market is Mark Stone.

Lee and Stone are both wingers. No one would compare Lee and Stone in terms of their complete, 200-foot game - Lee wasn’t a Selke Trophy finalist like Stone - but still, the statistical comparison is there.

They both entered the NHL at the same time. Lee, who turns 29 on July 3, is 22 months older than the 27-year-old Stone.

In 384 career games, Stone has 128 goals and 194 assists for 322 points.

In 425 career games, Lee has 152 goals and 106 assists for 258 points.

Two seasons ago, each collected 62-point seasons and Lee hit 40 goals. Stone had the better season this year split between Ottawa and Vegas; his deal was signed on March 8 after the trade deadline.

Again, to stress the point, Lee and Stone are not equal players. No one is making that stretch. But Lee is the better goal scorer - and goals are paid at a premium.

To make them comparable, the players don’t have to be equals, but they are at least operating in the same stratosphere.

So, if Stone signed an 8-year deal at $9.5 million for $76 million with a complete no-move clause, what exactly is Lee worth?

Is it $7.5 million per season? Is it more than that?

Captain America is going to make a pile of money somewhere on Canada Day. He may well end up with the fourth-largest total contract in free agency this summer.

That’s why Lee is up to No. 4 on TSN Hockey’s latest Free Agent Frenzy Top 50 rankings:

1 Artemi Panarin CBJ
2 Matt Duchene CBJ
3 Sergei Bobrovsky CBJ
4 Anders Lee NYI
5 Tyler Myers Wpg
6 Joe Pavelski SJS
7 Marcus Johansson Bos
8 Jake Gardiner Tor
9 Mats Zuccarello Dal
10 Robin Lehner NYI
11 Corey Perry Ana
12 Gustav Nyquist SJ
13 Anton Stralman Tam
14 Wayne Simmonds Nsh
15 Micheal Ferland Car
16 Ryan Dzingel CBJ
17 Brett Connolly Wsh
18 Brandon Tanev Wpg
19 Joonas Donskoi SJ
20 Ben Chiarot Wpg
21 Colin Wilson Col
22 Ron Hainsey Tor
23 Petr Mrazek Car
24 Mike Smith Cgy
25 Cam Talbot Phi
26 Ben Hutton Van
27 Patrick Maroon StL
28 Semyon Varlamov Col
29 Alex Chiasson Edm
30 Ryan Hartman Dal
31 Brian Boyle Nsh
32 Curtis McElhinney Car
33 Derick Brassard Col
34 Valtteri Filppula NYI
35 Deryk Engelland VGK
36 Jordie Benn Mtl
37 Richard Panik Ari
38 Noel Acciari Bos
39 Jason Pominville Buf
40 Ben Lovejoy Dal
41 Adam McQuaid CBJ
42 Jason Spezza Dal
43 Dion Phaneuf LA
44 Pierre-Eduoard Bellemare VGK
45 Patrik Nemeth Col
46 Dan Girardi Tam
47 Michael Del Zotto StL
48 Luke Schenn Van
49 Magnus Paajarvi Ott
50 John Gilmour NYR