It’s been a long four months, but guess what? Mike Reilly is finally back in the mix! This New York Islanders defenseman was not sure that he will be able to get another chance in the coming season, but he did not lose hope and kept on practicing and never let go of his dream. And then, finally, on Sunday morning, the game he had been waiting for–he is starting tonight in place of Adam Pelech against the defending champions, the Florida Panthers, at UBS Arena. Reilly had already made a name for himself last season, earning a one-year deal with the Isles after being scooped up off waivers from, ironically, Florida.

His ability as a playmaker, his control of the puck, and his fearless strides into the opposition half made him an invaluable part of the Islanders’ top six. So yeah, having him back? Absolutely clutch. But now that Mike Reilly is suiting up again, the question still lingers—what exactly kept him off the ice for all this time?

What happened to Mike Reilly?

The New York Islanders dropped the news on X—“After recovering from heart surgery, Mike Reilly is on the ice for warmups!” on 16th March. Mike Reilly, last hit the ice on November 1 in Buffalo, where a brutal hit from Jordan Greenway sent him crashing down, his head smacking against the ice. The concussion was bad enough, but during the medical checks that followed, doctors found something far more serious—a heart condition that had been hiding under the radar.

Reilly had fit right in with the Islanders and was excited for what could have been his first full season with the New York side in the NHL. But all he got was a terrible twist of fate, “I was more excited than I’ve ever been going into a year in quite some time. In 10-11 games in, it takes a 180.” Reilly, however, remained jovial throughout.“I’ve got a lot of support and stuff, and I still get to come to the rink,” he said to the fans in January.

And as expected, he did not disappoint as he skated independently first, then as part of a group, and after what could be considered a long wait, he was promoted from IR on March 8. Now? He’s back, cleared, and ready to roll. “I feel like I’m ready to play, I feel good,” Mike Reilly said. “I’ve been skating on my own a lot and getting touches, and it feels good to be back with the team.” And just like that, the comeback is officially on!

Reilly and his comeback journey!

Mike Reilly’s journey has not been an easy one, but after weeks of practicing alone and training, he is back with the Islanders for the California trip. It has been a rollercoaster since November, where what was initially diagnosed as a concussion was way more severe; a heart problem. “It was a crazy week after the concussion,” he said. “I was going to see a specialist for my head, and then for something to come out a day later that was heart-related, it was crushing.” However, within just 4 weeks of his heart surgery, Riley was on the ice. He finally joined the team in a non-contact jersey on February 23, and was eventually cleared to take contact within just five days.

However, being sidelined for four months wasn’t just tough physically—it was mentally draining. Not traveling with the team, skating alone, and grinding in the background took everything he had, but he remained resilient. “My whole career, it hasn’t been smooth sailing at times, so I feel like it’s another bump in the road,” he said.

What made his comeback journey a little easier was that his teammates always had his back. “As soon as they’d get back from the trip, they’d be checking in to see how I’m doing, making me feel a part of it.” He had support from his team, the front office, as well as the fans. Now that the team is on the road, he is enjoying every moment of it. It was evident that his love for the game never faded away and now he is back in the right place.