Report: Bruins sign Mike Reilly to multi-year deal
The Boston Bruins and pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Mike Reilly have successfully beat the buzzer, with the sides reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $9 million one night before the start of free agency.
Michael Russo was the first to report that the B’s and Reilly were close on a new deal, while Pierre LeBrun confirmed the news with the numbers shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday night.
He has indeed, three years, $3M AAV for Mike Reilly in Boston according to a source https://t.co/sFJy08oxLo
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 27, 2021
Acquired from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2022 third-round pick prior to the 2021 deadline, the 28-year-old put up a career-high 27 points (all assists) in a 55-game run between Boston and Ottawa.
In Boston, Reilly immediately stepped into a top-four role for an injury-battered Black and Gold defense corps, with eight points and a career-high 21:04 of time on ice per night over his 15-game post-deadline run with the B’s. A fit with the Bruins’ Brandon Carlo on Boston’s second pairing, Reilly competed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in his six-year NHL career this past spring, and totaled four points and a plus-3 rating in 11 games against the Capitals and Islanders.
Speaking with reporters last week, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney noted that the Bruins were in ‘constant communication’ with Reilly, while Reilly made it clear in June that he wanted to stay with the Bruins.
This new deal accomplishes exactly that, and at $3 million per year, making him the fourth-highest paid Boston defenseman.
The 6-foot-1 Reilly has totaled eight goals and 80 points in 259 career games between the Wild, Canadiens, Sens, and Bruins.
Reilly’s signing leaves the Bruins with just over $17 million in cap space ahead of the market opening at noon on Wednesday, and with the Bruins still looking to land on a number for David Krejci, and with the team still in need of a third-line presence, another defenseman (both on the left and right side), and a veteran goaltender.
Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.
