The Carolina Hurricanes kept another familiar face in the fold on Thursday, signing defenseman Mike Reilly to a one-year, two-way contract.
The deal pays $850,000 at the NHL level and $450,000 in the AHL. Reilly had already been part of Carolina’s plans heading into the 2025-26 campaign, and last season he filled the role of the team’s No. 7 defenseman.
That job turned into a lot more than a placeholder. With injuries piling up on the blue line, Reilly ended up appearing in 42 regular season games, finishing with one goal and eight assists for nine points.
He also got a look during the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup run, stepping in for Alexander Nikishin after an injury and posting two assists in two games.
Reilly’s NHL resume stretches back to his debut with the Minnesota Wild in the 2015-16 season. Across 11 seasons, he has played 460 regular season games and totaled 19 goals, 114 assists and 133 points.
His return gives general manager Eric Tulsky another experienced piece for a defense group that already looks deep. Jaccob Slavin, Jalen Chatfield, K’Andre Miller, Sean Walker and Shayne Gostisbehere are all set to be back, while Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Juuso Valimaki have also recently signed on as veteran depth. Joel Nystrom and Charles-Alexis Legault are also in position to push for NHL time.
That still leaves restricted free agent Alexander Nikishin unsigned after a strong rookie season. His name has come up often in trade rumors this summer as his camp and Carolina’s front office continue to work without a contract extension in place.
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Hurricanes Blue Line Just Got More Crowded For A Familiar Veteran
The Hurricanes added a familiar face to their blue line depth by bringing back defenseman Mike Reilly on a one-year, two-way contract. Reilly spent part of last season in Carolina, appearing in 42 games, and now returns to a defense corps that already looks crowded with established options under contract.
For the Hurricanes, the move is less about flash than fit, and it adds another veteran layer to a group that still has to sort out its positional balance as camp approaches. Reillys presence gives Carolina more insurance on the back end, but it also adds to the competition for roles in a unit that has plenty of names and not a lot of obvious room. [Read more 🡒]
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For a team that has built its identity on depth and development, the moves fit the usual pattern: give players who know the organization another chance to earn their place, and keep the pipeline stocked with options. Primeaus path has already included a detour earlier this year, and BrindAmour and Robidas each arrive on two-way contracts that underline how much of this business is still about proving readiness, not just collecting familiar names. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Prospects Suddenly Have A Real Opening To Chase
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Cerrato is one of the more intriguing pieces in that mix after signing his three-year entry-level contract, while Nadeau and Ekberg also enter the showcase with some momentum and a chance to show how close they are to NHL consideration. For Carolina, these sessions are more than a developmental checkpoint - they are a first real look at which prospects are positioned to turn a strong summer into a bigger role, and which ones might force a longer conversation before camp ends. [Read more 🡒]