Mike Reilly wanted a reunion with the Islanders but says the team wasn't interested

RALEIGH, N.C. — Mike Reilly  was very interested in returning to the Islanders, even after being a frequent healthy scratch once he returned from  a heart issue  that sidelined him for a significant portion of last season.

That interest was not reciprocated.

So the veteran depth defenseman moved on to the Hurricanes on a one-year, $1.1 million deal as an unrestricted free agent. He faced one of his six former teams for the first time since leaving at Lenovo Center on Thursday night.

“I met with Lou after the season and it was kind of, let’s see how things shake out,” Reilly said of former president/general manager Lou Lamoriello. “They let him go. There wasn’t too much from New York at all. I think my agent talked to [new GM Mathieu] Darche once in early June and there was nothing there. If there was an opportunity to come back, I definitely wanted to. But there was nothing there.”

The Islanders did re-sign Adam Boqvist to a one-year, $850,000 deal to essentially be their seventh defenseman. He played in four of the first 10 games.

And, of course, the Islanders drafted Matthew Schaefer first overall in June, and the 18-year-old quickly has become  the team’s most dynamic defenseman.

Reilly can understand why there was no room for him to come back.

“I could kind of sense it a little bit and then they get the first overall pick,” he said. “Everyone knew who the Islanders were going to be taking there. I think that played a little bit of a factor, too. And then they’ve got [Isaiah] George and [Marshall] Warren is playing right now. So they’ve got some young guys.

“I should say I was sad, but there were some great times there. I kind of saw it coming that I’d probably have to go a different route. Thankful for my time in New York.”

The Islanders claimed Reilly, 32, off waivers from the Panthers on Nov. 25, 2023, and brought him back for last season after he notched six goals and 18 assists in 59 games.

But he was limited to two assists in 18 games last season. He suffered a concussion on Nov. 1, and during the subsequent medical testing, a previously undetected heart condition was discovered that required surgery.

Reilly missed 54 games before returning for a six-game stretch. He was a disappointed healthy scratch for the final 10 games.

“I loved playing with Mike,” defenseman Adam Pelech said. “He is a great teammate. A really good guy. Just a pleasure to be around every day. We miss him here. I’m glad he’s found a spot he’s doing well. He’s a good player.”

Reilly entered Thursday’s game with three assists in his first six games for the Hurricanes, who have top defensemen Jaccob Slavin, K’Andre Miller and Shayne Gostisbehere out with lower-body injuries.

“He’s been around, so he understands,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “You know what you’re getting. He’s not going to wow you, but he knows how to play. He’s probably played every system that there probably is, so it’s not like, ‘Oh, this is new.’ He’s adapting really well to the group and he’s been a real good piece for us.”

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.