Defenceman Mike Reilly fits right in with Habs
Charlie Lindgren and Mike Reilly grew up together in Minnesota.
“We played on the same triple-A team, but we also got cut from a couple of teams because we were always the smallest guys,” recalled Lindgren, who at the very least is the backup goaltender of the future for the Canadiens. “Fortunately, we grew.”
The 6-foot-1 Lindgren and the 6-foot-2 Reilly were reunited this week when the Canadiens obtained Reilly from the Minnesota Wild in return for a fifth-round choice in the 2019 NHL draft. Coach Claude Julien said Reilly will probably make his Canadiens’ debut Wednesday, when the New York Islanders visit the Bell Centre (7 p.m., Sportsnet, RDS, TSN-690 Radio).
Reilly, a puck-moving defenceman, has some Montreal connections. His father, Mike Sr., was drafted by the Canadiens in the seventh round in 1977, although he never played pro hockey.
Reilly was a fourth-round draft choice of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2011, but they were unable to sign him and he became a free agent when he finished his career at the University of Minnesota. He said the Canadiens were among the teams that talked to him before he decided to stay at home and sign with the Wild in 2015.
“I went to the combine and there were six or seven teams that showed some interest,” Reilly said. “I talked to (Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin) at that time, but I decided to sign with Minnesota because I thought it offered a better opportunity.”
Reilly has played 84 NHL games over three seasons and he has been in and out of the lineup. He has two goals and eight assists in 38 games this season, while averaging a little more than 12 minutes a game.
“I like to use my speed, make good passes to the forwards,” Reilly said when asked to assess his game. “From my first practice here, there are a lot of skilled guys here and I like playing with guys like that. I can be the fourth guy (pinching in) late to make plays, create things. I’m not the most physical guy, but I have a good stick and close the gaps well.”
Lindgren isn’t the only Canadien who has shared the ice with Reilly in the past. Reilly and Alex Galchenyuk were teammates on the U.S. team that won the world junior championship in 2013. They were part of a loaded squad that included Johnny Gaudreau, J.T., Miller, Jimmy Vesey, Ryan Hartman and Shayne Gostisbehere.
“He’s a very skilled player and he was one of the best defencemen at the tournament,” noted Galchenyuk. “He gets pucks through and we played together on the power play there. He uses his skill and if you give him a second or two, he’s going to make a play.
Reilly was paired with Jordie Benn at practice Tuesday and he displayed his shot while working with assistant coach Jean-Jacques Daigneault after practice. David Schlemko will sit as the extra defenceman.
There will be some other changes from the lineup that took the Philadelphia Flyers to a shootout before losing 1-0 Monday.
Lindgren was credited with his second shutout of the season in that game, but he’ll back up Antti Niemi Wednesday. Niemi has a 2-1-1 career record against the Islanders.
And rookie Nikita Scherbak returns to the lineup as the leftwinger on a line with Byron Froese and Daniel Carr.