He’s an offensively gifted forward and respected leader who celebrates his 29th birthday on July 3.

Anders Lee, the 6-foot-3, 231-pound left-winger, recorded 28 goals and 51 points last season as captain of the New York Islanders. In 2017-18, the Minnesota native tallied 40 goals and 62 points.

Taken in the sixth round by the Islanders at the 2009 NHL Draft, Lee spent three campaigns at the University of Notre Dame before making the jump to the NHL.

On July 1, Lee, who has 258 points in 425 career NHL games, signed a seven-year contract with the Islanders.

What are the soon-to-be-birthday-boy’s favourite gifts? Lee took time out to offer his Top 5 with NHLPA.com on Monday morning, in no particular order.

Lee's top birthday memories

1. Net gains

“As a kid, I got a hockey net for one of my birthdays. Putting that thing together, bringing it out to the driveway and then using it was a pretty big deal for me. That’s one that definitely stands out.”

2. Icing on the cake  

“Grace (Lee’s wife) made an American flag cake for me one year. That was pretty sweet. It was excellent.”  

3. One party leads to another

“Being born on July 3rd means you get two parties. I get to enjoy my birthday with my family and friends, and then you get to celebrate the 4th of July the next day. I’m pretty lucky to have those back-to-back celebrations. I think that’s a big gift in itself. It’s good timing for everyone to get together. It’s just special to be able to get together with everyone.”

4. Early birthday gift  

“With the news that came out [July 1], I’d say that’s a pretty nice birthday present. That’s up there for sure.”

5. Food, glorious food

“I love ice cream cake… that’s a big one for me. I like all types of food. Whether it’s Italian, Mexican or hamburgers, I’m always up for it. Usually, I get to choose because that’s your day, but a lot of the time, we’re grilling burgers, hot dogs and wings because of the time of year.”