Islanders Mike Reilly Shares Smiling Pic, Message To Fans After Undergoing Heart Surgery

Mike Reilly is in good spirits after his heart surgery.

On Tuesday, New York Islanders defenseman Mike Reilly underwent heart surgery and will be out indefinitely. 

His condition, something he was born with but never knew about, was discovered after he was being treated for a possible concussion following an incident that occurred on Nov. 1.

In the third period of the Islanders' 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres, Reilly was knocked unconscious by Sabres forward Jordan Greenway.

He left the game and did not return.

"It's probably a blessing in disguise of what transpired," Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters in Calgary on Monday. "They detected this, something that you're sometimes born with but never knew."

After the surgery, Reilly took to Instagram to send a message to the fans:

It's great to see him smiling at a time when it's easy to be doing anything but. 

While it may take him a long time before returning to the ice, Reilly will get back to normal, for sure. 

"[His quality of life will be] 100% and he will be able to play once this procedure is done," Lamoriello said to reporters. "It takes quite a bit of time. It could be several months before he's back because of the type of procedure."

We are wishing him a speedy recovery.