Mike Reilly (ice hockey)

Michael J. Reilly Jr. (born July 13, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fourth round, 98th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and has previously played for the Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers.

Collegiate
Born in Chicago, Reilly grew up in Chanhassen, Minnesota. After attending and playing for the Academy of Holy Angels and Shattuck-St Mary's, Reilly was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Opting not to sign with the Blue Jackets, he went on to play for the University of Minnesota.

Reilly proved himself to be an offensive weapon with the Golden Gophers, particularly in his sophomore and junior seasons, where he scored 33 and 42 points, respectively. This earned him Big Ten Conference's Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-American in those years. In his sophomore year, Reilly was part of a Minnesota team that reached the finals in the 2014 NCAA tournament, where they were upset by the cinderella story Union Dutchmen.

Minnesota Wild
On May 16, 2015, it was announced that Reilly intended to turn pro, and informed the Blue Jackets that he intended to test the free agent market once he would be able to do so on June 15. Reilly would become one of the most coveted college free agents on the market due to his offensive statistics at Minnesota.

On July 1, Reilly opted to stay in the state of Minnesota by signing a two-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild worth $1.85 million.

Although Reilly initially started his first professional season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Iowa Wild, after scoring 23 points in 45 games, Reilly was called up on January 9, 2016, and made his NHL debut in a 2–1 victory over the Dallas Stars later that day. He scored his first NHL goal and point on February 13, in a 4–2 loss to the Boston Bruins. Reilly would play the rest of the season in Minnesota, and in 29 games, Reilly scored a goal and an assist.

Once again, Reilly started the 2016–17 season in the AHL, although he was quickly called up in October. Unfortunately, Reilly would not find the stability at the NHL level that he did in his rookie year, bouncing between Minnesota and Iowa, and playing 17 games while registering a lone goal. In the AHL, however, Reilly would continue to show off his two-way skill, scoring 30 points in 57 games.

For the first time in his career, Reilly would make the NHL roster to start the 2017–18 season. After a one game stint in Iowa, Reilly was in-and-out of the Wild lineup. However, there was a surplus of young defensemen on the NHL roster, and as a result, Reilly's agent, Pat Brisson, was given permission to explore trades, despite Reilly not actively seeking for one. After scoring two goals and eight assists in 38 games with the Wild, on February 26, 2018, Reilly was traded to the Montreal Canadiens.

Montreal Canadiens
On February 26, 2018, Minnesota traded Reilly to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

After making his Canadiens debut on March 1, 2018, Reilly found a bit of a scoring touch with the Habs, scoring eight assists in the remaining 19 games, the same amount he had in his previous 38 games with the Wild. However, the Canadiens would finish well outside the playoff picture for the season, leaving Reilly without a postseason appearance three years into his career.

After a promising start to his Canadien career, Reilly continued his success to start the 2018–19 season, and provided a good partner to captain Shea Weber. However, lineup crunches once again worked against Reilly's favor, as he found himself occasionally being scratched as the season went on, including his homecoming back to Minnesota. Although the Canadiens fought for a playoff spot, they finished two points outside the final wild card spot, and Reilly ended the season with 11 points in 57 games.

Reilly signed a two-year extension with Montreal worth $3 million following the 2018–19 season.

Fresh off an extension, Reilly looked to take a step forward in his game in the 2019–20 season. However, things went the complete opposite as planned. Reilly was a consistent scratch for the team, playing in only 14 games before he was traded to the Ottawa Senators in early January.

Ottawa Senators
On January 2, 2020, Reilly was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Andrew Sturtz and a fifth-round pick in 2021.

With a fresh start, Reilly looked to finally solidify himself in an NHL lineup. Unlike with the Canadiens, Reilly was consistently in the Senators lineup during the season. His first point as a Senator came on January 11, 2020, with an assist on a goal by Colin White. After scoring 12 points in 30 games with the Senators, Reilly's season suddenly halted when the NHL suspended the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the season resumed in July 2020, the Senators were not invited into the playoff bubble, ending Reilly's season.

Reilly looked to continue his lineup consistency in the delayed 2020–21 season, and this he did do. By the trade deadline, in 40 games with the Senators, Reilly scored 19 assists, which was a career high. As a pending free agent on a struggling Senators team, Reilly's success had him as a prime trade target approaching the deadline.

Boston Bruins
Reilly was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft on April 11, 2021.

Reilly proved to be a valuable deadline addition for the Bruins. In the final 15 games of the season, Reilly found instant chemistry with the Bruins, scoring eight assists. This included a stretch where he scored four assists in five games. This would help set the Bruins up with a first round matchup against the Washington Capitals, allowing Reilly to get his first taste of Stanley Cup Playoff hockey. Reilly scored his first and second playoff points, both assists, in the clinching Game 5 against the Capitals, allowing the Bruins to move on against the New York Islanders, whom they would be eliminated by in six games. Reilly finished the overall season with 27 assists, a career high, and four assists in 11 playoff games.

On July 27, 2021, Reilly signed a three-year, $9 million contract extension with the Bruins.

Reilly finally found himself starting consistently in the NHL lineup during the 2021–22 season. In 70 games, Reilly scored four goals, a career high, and 13 assists. He would only play in five playoff games with the Bruins before they were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.

Due to the Bruins battling salary cap issues, as well as inconsistent play from Reilly, while in just his second season with the club in 2022–23, he was placed on waivers by the Bruins on November 9, 2022. In clearing the following day, Reilly's cap hit was buried and he was re-assigned and played the remainder of the season with the Bruins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Providence Bruins. On February 24, 2023, Reilly scored his first professional hat-trick in a 6–5 win for Providence, adding two assists as well, resulting in a five-point night.

Florida Panthers
Having completed the season, on June 30, 2023, Reilly was placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout from the remaining year of his contract with the Bruins. Released to be a free agent, Reilly was immediately signed on the opening day of free agency to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Florida Panthers on July 1.

However, Reilly's Panthers tenure would be short-lived. Despite making the Panthers opening night roster, Reilly would not see the ice until November 7, 2023, well into the season. Reilly was scoreless in two games with the Panthers before he was placed on waivers and later claimed by the New York Islanders on November 25.

New York Islanders
Reilly made his Islanders debut in a 5–4 defeat by New Jersey Devils on November 28. His first goal with the Islanders was in a 5–4 overtime loss to San Jose Sharks on December 5. With the Islanders, Reilly seemingly found his scoring touch and had a career year. He had six goals and 18 assists in 59 games with the Islanders. He would also score his first career playoff goal in game five of the opening-round series against the Hurricanes, to whom the Islanders would fall in five games.

Personal life
Reilly's father, Michael Sr., was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the eighth round of the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft, but ultimately never played in the NHL.