Mike Reilly Trying to Find a Permanent Home with the New York Islanders

The Plus and Minus Sides of Mike Reilly with the New York Islanders

PLUS

Reilly has been known as a solid, puck-moving defenseman who can log tough minutes. During his time in Montreal, Reilly consistently logged 20 minutes a night.

While his ice time has fluctuated over the years, Reilly has maintained a solid physical presence, allowing him to earn coaches’ trust everywhere he’s played.

Perhaps the most important aspect of Reilly’s game is that he rarely makes costly gaffes in his own end. He can be relied upon to make smart choices and avoid crucial mistakes. Moreover, he’s not afraid to block shots, kill penalties, and play against tough opponents.

Rielly’s overall upside has been valuable to every team he’s played for. Unfortunately, he’s yet to find a permanent home. With the way he’s played thus far, the Islanders could become a permanent stop for Reilly, particularly at this point in his career.

MINUS

On the flip side, Reilly is hardly the type of blue liner that turns heads. He’s not flashy and will not put up a ton of points. While his game is not based on him being a top-scoring defenseman, his lack of offensive production may lead some to question his overall value.

Additionally, Reilly’s mostly defensive-based game has prompted some analysts to consider him as one-dimensional. Indeed, Reilly has not earned his keep as an offensively gifted defenseman. But then again, his role, especially at this point in his career, doesn’t demand he put up huge offensive numbers to contribute.

On the whole, there’s very little to criticize about Reilly’s game. As long as he continues to gobble up minutes from the bottom pairing, he should continue to deliver value.

The Verdict

Mike Reilly should find a permanent home with the New York Islanders, especially as prospects come up through the ranks. He provides a veteran presence that is difficult to find around the league. As such, Reilly’s influence as a potential role model and meaningful contributor on the ice will hopefully motivate team management to keep him around for a long while.