Islanders Defenseman Mike Reilly Back On Ice After Heart Surgery

EAST MEADOW, NY -- After suffering a concussion against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 1, New York Islanders defenseman Mike Reilly underwent testing.

During his testing, it was revealed that Reilly had a heart issue, something he was born with but had yet to be uncovered.

“It was picked up through the different echocardiograms that you do for different reasons that you go through with any post-concussion situation," Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "It's probably a blessing in disguise of what transpired. They detected this, something that you're sometimes born with but never knew.

"[His quality of life will be] 100 percent, and he will be able to play once this procedure is done," Lamoriello said. "It takes quite a bit of time. It could be several months before he's back because of the type of procedure."

But, to our surprise, Reilly was skating on the ice on Saturday morning with Dennis Seidenberg, a former Islanders defenseman who has become a developmental coach.

View the original article to see embedded media.

He was wearing a regular practice jersey.

There is no timetable for his return, but what a sign to see No. 2 back on the ice under two months after heart surgery.