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Andy Greene never considered not returning to Islanders this season

Andy Greene of the Islanders skates during summer training camp at Northwell Health Ice Center on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac

Andy Greene and his wife, Rachel, are raising two young sons in New Jersey, where he played 13-plus seasons for the Devils. At age 37, he’s an impending unrestricted free agent with the salary cap remaining flat at $81.5 million next season.

But Greene said Sunday he never considered opting out of returning this season as the Islanders prepare for a best-of-five qualifying series against the Panthers on Aug. 1 in Toronto.

“It was tough to leave, a little bit tougher than I anticipated,” said Greene, acquired on Feb.