Mike Reilly is no stranger to new settings and will need to use that experience as he joins the New York Islanders.
The Islanders claimed the defenseman off waivers on Saturday, desperately needing him to help stabilize a blueline that has become worryingly thin in the last few days.
A nine-year NHL veteran, Reilly has played for five different teams. However, he only appeared in two games this season for the Florida Panthers before being waived on Saturday. The timing, though, couldn’t have been more convenient for the Islanders after they placed Adam Pelech and Sebastian Aho on injured reserve.
“I know some guys are down,” Reilly said after his first practice with the Islanders on Monday. “I kind of thought there was maybe a chance it could happen. I was very excited to get this opportunity.”
With Reilly now on board, the Islanders will need him to get accustomed quickly and, at the very least, shoulder some of the minutes their other defenseman have been forced to play the last couple of games.
The Islanders rotated their defense pairs in practice on Monday, so it’s yet to be seen where in the lineup Reilly will fit at even-strength.
“I think the system is I think pretty straightforward,” Reilly said. “They showed some video this morning before we went on the ice and went over the neutral zone and a couple of other things. I think it’s similar to other teams’ systems in a way that there’s always kind of some tweaks here or there. They’ve done a good job communicating, and I’ve talked to a couple of the players if I have a question or two.”
Reilly did assume the position of quarterback on the second power-play unit in practice, a role he’s played throughout his career.
“He’s got great mobility,” Islanders head coach Lane Lambert said. “He’s a great skater and passes the puck hard. That’s, that’s his MO, a good first pass guy.”
What should help Reilly acclimate to his new surroundings are the familiar faces that already exist within it. A Minnesota native, Reilly has ties to Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, Hudson Fasching and former Islander Nick Leddy. While playing for the Ottawa Senators, he shared a locker room with Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
“I liked having him as a teammate before,” Pageau said. “It’s great to have him here. I think he’s going to help the team. He’s obviously a great player, but he’s an awesome guy too. He’s got a lot of experience, and he’s going to fit right in with this group.”
Reilly will make his Islanders debut tomorrow in New Jersey.
Surely, it’s not enough time for him to pick up everything he needs to know, but the Islanders don’t have much of a choice otherwise while they’re desperate for answers.
“He’s got enough experience as a veteran guy and has played enough games,” Lambert said. “Certainly, he has an idea of how to play in the league.”
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