Scary Situation for Mike Reilly, Who Will Undergo Heart Surgery

New York Islanders president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello has announced that defenseman Mike Reilly will be out indefinitely as he is set to undergo a heart procedure on Tuesday to address "a preexisting, but previously undiscovered heart condition."

#isles say Mike Reilly will undergo a heart procedure that will keep him out for “several months.”

Doctors uncovered the heart condition through tests stemming from a recent concussion, though it’s not related.

GM Lou Lamoriello called it “a blessing in disguise.”
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) November 18, 2024

Recent tests that Reilly underwent after a concussion revealed the condition to doctors, though it is not related to the concussion.

"It was picked up through the different echocardiograms that you do for different reasons that you go through with any post-concussion situation," Lamoriello said. He calls the unexpected finding “a blessing in disguise.”

The 31-year-old D-Man is expected to be out for several months, though he is fully expected to be able to continue his hockey career after he's recovered from the surgery.

"[His quality of life will be] 100% and he will be able to play (again)," Lamoriello said.

The Islanders acquired Reilly from the Florida Panthers last season and he registered 24 points in 59 games with a plus/minus rating of +1. This season, he has no points in 11 games, while playing an average of 15:45 a night.