Former NY Islanders defenseman completes remarkable journey to Stanley Cup Champion

For many New York Islanders fans, seeing former defenseman Mike Reilly skating around with the Stanley Cup on Sunday night was impossible not to smile about.

Not because Reilly was a star player on the championship-winning Carolina Hurricanes.

But because of everything he had to overcome just to get back on the ice.

Reilly's hockey journey took a dramatic turn during his time with the Islanders in the 2024-25 season. After suffering a concussion, routine medical testing revealed something far more serious: a previously undetected heart condition that required surgery. “It was a crazy week after the concussion,” Reilly 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. When I got all that news, it was a lot.”

Suddenly, hockey became secondary.

Questions about lineup spots, contracts, and future opportunities gave way to concerns about health and life beyond the game. For a player who had already bounced around the league and fought to establish himself, it was a frightening moment that put everything into perspective.

Fortunately, the procedure was successful.

Reilly worked his way back, resumed his career, and signed with Carolina last summer looking for another opportunity.

The veteran defenseman appeared in 42 regular-season games, recording nine points while providing valuable depth on one of the NHL's deepest blue lines. He also contributed during the playoffs, recording two assists in two postseason games when injuries opened the door for him.

By playing in 42 regular-season games, Reilly also cleared the threshold required to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. For a player who once faced uncertainty about whether he would play again, having his name permanently etched onto hockey's greatest trophy is a remarkable achievement.

Islanders fans only got a brief glimpse of Reilly's career, but they also witnessed one of the most challenging chapters of it. That's why seeing him celebrating in full gear with the Stanley Cup felt different. Islanders fans, more than most, knew what he went through to make that happen.