Islanders’ Mike Reilly set to return following heart procedure

New York Islanders defenseman Mike Reilly will make his return to the lineup Sunday versus the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers after being sidelined for the past 54 games, reports Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News.

Initially sidelined for seven games due to a concussion, Reilly then missed another 47 contests after undergoing a heart procedure in mid-November.

“Resilient is a good choice of word,” Islanders head coach Patrick Roy told Rosner.” It would be easy for anyone to give up and then he wants to continue to play, and he wants to do well. I’m happy for him.”

Through 11 appearances with the Islanders this season, Reilly has recorded a plus-one rating, two penalty minutes, and 15 shots while averaging 15:45 in time on ice. Skating in his second season with the Islanders, the 2023-24 campaign saw Reilly reach a career-high 24 points counting six goals and 18 assists coming in 59 games.

In November 2023, the Islanders claimed Reilly off waivers from the Panthers. Originally chosen by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft, Reilly has totaled 411 career contests counting stops with the Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, Panthers, and Islanders in which he has registered 18 goals and 104 assists for 122 points. The 31-year-old Chicago native has also added six points through 21 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Per PuckPedia, Reilly is on a one-year contract that carries a $1.25-million annual average value and can become an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason.

For the Islanders, on the season the club sits 29-28-8 and six points back of the Metropolitan Division rival New York Rangers for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in five of the past six seasons.