Getting to Know: Mike Reilly

BOSTON - The Bruins' blue line has been battered by injuries in recent weeks.
On Sunday night, Boston was without four of its top six defensemen as Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk, and Kevan Miller were all sidelined, leaving the Bruins in desperate need of some relief on the back end.
They got some late Sunday night when Bruins general manager Don Sweeney sent a 2022 third-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for veteran defenseman Mike Reilly.
The 27-year-old has been in the midst of a career season for the Sens with 19 assists in 40 games.

"We've got a good group of guys in Ottawa here, and I think the coach here [D.J. Smith] is doing a great job, someone who's been huge for how it's gone for me in the past year and a half. I owe a lot of the credit to him," said Reilly. "You know where you stand with him, and I think that's a big thing with confidence and just coming to the rink every single day. I thought things were going well here and want to take the momentum into Boston."
The 6-foot-1, 199-pound left shot will drive to Boston from Ottawa on Monday and believes he will avoid any quarantine restrictions as a result. He could be in the lineup on Tuesday night against the Sabres at TD Garden.
"Definitely really excited to get going here," said Reilly. "Obviously, I played in Montreal [from 2017-20], so being able to play in Boston, and when Boston came to the Bell Centre, was some spirited games for sure.
"I love the way Boston plays and also know a couple guys on the team that've already reached out to me. So, definitely excited to get going here."
Reilly is a Minnesota native and went on to play for his hometown Wild from 2015-18, during which he was teammates with Bruins center Charlie Coyle. Reilly had high praise for the Boston pivot, who delivered a welcome call to his old friend on Monday morning.
"Charlie Coyle, I was talking to him a little bit [on Sunday] night and was talking to him on the phone a little bit ago," Reilly said during a virtual press conference on Monday morning. "We spent a couple years in Minnesota and still keep in touch. Obviously, he's one of the best guys I've ever played with, team-first guy.
"In Minnesota, was moving up in the lineup and never complained once, came to the rink and would be the hardest worker every single day. That's kind of the guys you want to play with and be around.
"Definitely excited to get going here. The first thing I heard about the group of guys is how tight-knit a group it is, and how close the guys are and how great the locker room is and that's a really enticing thing to come into."

Everything else you need to know about the B's newest defenseman:
Last Team:Ottawa Senators
Position:Defense
Height:6 feet, 1 inch
Weight:199 pounds
Shoots:Left
Birthday:July 13, 1993 (27 years old)
Birthplace:Chicago, Illinois
Hometown:Chanhassen, Minnesota
Draft:Fourth Round, 98thoverall, 2011 (Columbus)
Social:@mreilly93 (Twitter), @mikeyreilly5 (Instagram)
Miscellaneous:The 27-year-old has played for three teams in six NHL seasons, compiling 8 goals and 72 points in 244 games for Minnesota, Montreal, and Ottawa. Reilly has already picked up a career-high 19 assists in 40 games for the Senators this season. The blue liner was traded to Ottawa from Montreal in January 2020.
Reilly was born in Chicago but grew up in Minnesota, where he played high school hockey at Academy of Holy Angels and powerhouse Shattuck-Saint Mary's. He went on to play for the University of Minnesota from 2012-15 and was the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-American following both his sophomore and junior seasons. He was also a Hobey Baker Award finalist in 2014-15.
Following his time with the Golden Gophers, Reilly was unable to come to terms with the Blue Jackets and signed a two-year, entry-level deal with his hometown Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2015. Reilly made his NHL debut in January 2016 and scored his first NHL goal against the Bruins on Feb. 13, 2016.
Reilly represented the United States at the 2013 World Junior Championship, helping Team USA to the gold medal.
Scouting Report:The 6-foot-1, 199-pound blue liner brings some size and mobility to the B's back end and should be a contributor to the club's offensive attack. Reilly also said that he prides himself on being a staunch defender in his own zone.
"I think I can help break the puck out and, first and foremost, defend and play hard and then work itself out from there," said Reilly. "Try to be the fourth guy on the rush, makes plays, support these skillful forwards. Definitely excited for that.
"I was killing some penalties and playing on the power play a little bit in Ottawa here, so whatever's asked of me, I'm excited to do."