Mike Reilly Ready For Opportunity With Islanders Alongside Familiar Faces

On Monday morning, Mike Reilly hit the practice sheet for his first skate with the New York Islanders.

EAST MEADOW, NY -- On Monday morning, Mike Reilly hit the practice sheet for his first skate with the New York Islanders after being claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers on Saturday afternoon.

The 30-year-old left-shot defenseman wasn't getting playing time with Florida, drawing into just two games this season, primarily serving as Paul Maurice's seventh defenseman. 

Reilly knew that landing in New York was a possibility, given the injuries to Adam Pelech (LTIR) and Sebastian Aho (IR). 

"Was just kind of waiting around once it got close to two o'clock," Reilly said. "I didn't have a full idea that it was gonna be here, but I thought there was maybe a chance that could happen and just kind of waited around."

A puck-moving, mobile defenseman, Reilly will have a prime opportunity to show his worth with the Islanders' backend on life support at this very moment. 

"I'm very excited to get this opportunity," Reilly said. "This is a team I played a lot. Played them in the playoffs a couple of years ago (with Boston), so I'm familiar with a couple of guys in here as well. So definitely really excited."

The Islanders beat the Boston Bruins 4-2 in the second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. That was the New York Saints year for those who remember. 

"It was at the old rink there in Nassau. It was a team that played very hard. It was a grinding series, a physical, physical series, and I feel like every single guy on that team, no matter who it was, was finishing their checks and playing playoff hockey," Reilly said. "The fans were very, very loud. Obviously, there's a new arena here, but I remember that was just a grind of a playoff series scene, and obviously, they came out on top. 

"I just kind of remember being in that playoff series, and the fans could tell just from the guys talking about it, and what they experienced, so I'm definitely pumped to be here."

Donning No. 2 may or may not be a coincidence, as Reilly's best bud is former Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy, who is currently playing for the St. Louis Blues.

"Yesterday, I dropped my bag off, and I already had No. 2. That's about all I know," Reilly said. "But I know it was my best buddy's old number, in Leddy, so it's just funny. I gave him a text yesterday after I found out."

A native of Chicago, Reilly is now playing for his sixth NHL franchise in nine years after the Columbus Blue Jackets took him in the fourth round (No. 98) in the 2011 NHL Draft. 

Reilly may be a new face in the dressing room, but he's played with a handful of Islanders throughout his career, which makes things easier. 

"It's huge," Reilly said, having familiar faces as the new guy. "Even if you have a couple of guys, it's awesome, just because I kind of feel more comfortable coming in right away. Obviously, I'm a little bit nervous coming out a little bit, but it feels like you don't have to walk on eggshells hust based on knowing a couple of guys and being familiar with them. 

"So yeah, definitely ready for this opportunity. And I think it's a good first day. I'm glad I got to practice before the game."

As Reilly mentioned, he knows a lot of players in this room. He played with Hudson Fasching at the University of Minnesota, played with Jean-Gabriel Pageau when they were both with the Senators, and plays in Da Beauty League in the summer, so he knows Brock Nelson and Anders Lee. 

"We had a lot of fun there, had a good time. We were a good team, and he's a good player," Fasching said on Reilly. "Smooth skating defenseman. He's skilled offensively, sees the ice well."

As for Fasching's excitement level at having a former college teammate come aboard: "I was excited. It's always good to have another Minnesota guy and a familiar face around the room. He's a bright and happy guy. So he's a great guy to be around and is a great teammate."

Pageau also was excited to call Reilly a teammate again. 

"I think everyone's going to like his game, but first of all, he's a great person and a great teammate, from what I remember. Maybe he's changed," Pageau joked." He's a great skater. He's got a lot of composure with that puck. He's able to make plays to break the puck out or just skate it out. 

"He's got a lot of experience, playing a lot, so I think he's going to bring a lot of composure back there. I think he's very responsible defensively, also, which fits right in in our system. So I think it's hard after the first day, but playing against him the last couple years, he's always been hard to play against. So I'm sure he's going to do everything to help us."

Here's what stood out to Islanders head coach Lane Lambert regarding his new player.

"I think he's got great mobility. Great skater, passes the puck hard, you know, and that's his M.O," Lambert said. "Good first-pass guy. So I like the mobility a lot."

Reilly skated alongside Grant Hutton and Samuel Bolduc at practice while quarterbacking the second power-play unit.  

His experience is something Lambert will rely on.

"He's got enough experience," Lambert said. "Veteran guy and has played enough games (341) that certainly he has an idea of how to play in the league for sure."

You can listen to Rosner talk Islanders hockey on Hockey Night in New York with co-host Sean Cuthbert on Sunday nights at 8 PM ET during the season.