Word is traveling around the NHL that something special is brewing in South Florida
Word is traveling around the NHL that something special is brewing in South Florida
Mike Reilly is back home in Minnesota, well into his offseason training program as he prepares for another NHL season.
Reilly signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Florida Panthers on the opening day of free agency last weekend.
After spending the majority of the past season in the AHL, playing 36 games for the Providence Bruins and just 10 for the Boston Bruins, Reilly wanted to sign somewhere he’d have a chance at some real NHL ice time.
Speaking with Panthers General Manager Bill Zito, who Reilly had a previous relationship from when both were in the Columbus organization about a decade ago, the soon-to-be 30-year-old defenseman (his birthday is July 13) felt Florida would be the right fit for what he was looking for.
“I spoke with Bill over the weekend, and he said there’s going to be a great opportunity,” Reilly said while speaking to the media from his car, hockey sticks in the back seat, while outside of a Twin Cities hockey rink. “I’m super excited about this, I love the way the team plays and just how hard they compete.”
When Zito transitioned from being a player agent to joining the Blue Jackets front office in 2013, Reilly was a young prospect in the organization.
“When I was in college (at the University of Minnesota) he was an assistant general manager with Columbus, so we had a relationship, I believe my last two years of college there,” Reilly said. “It’s kind of funny we cross paths again here.”
Having a previous relationship is a great place to start, but it doesn’t sound like Zito had to sell Reilly too hard on coming to South Florida.
Panthers fans have had a front row seat to the transition the franchise has gone through over the past several seasons.
The vibe around the team, the culture change, the great locker room, and overall camaraderie brewing in Sunrise…word is getting out.
Even when Panthers captain Sasha Barkov and All-Star Matthew Tkachuk called Reilly after he signed, the newest Cat was already well aware of the good things they had to say about being a part of this team.
“They reached out and said they were excited to have me and that I’m going to love the group of guys down there,” Reilly said. “I’ve heard the same thing. That kind of stuff gets around.”
A team capable of winning the Presidents’ Trophy and reaching the Stanley Cup Final is also in a great geographical location AND has a locker room full of great guys that get along and work their butts off for the collective goal of winning a championship?
Sign me up!