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2021 Free Agency: Five Defenseman The Flyers Should Consider Signing

By Jacob Modugno

Nov 21, 2019; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (19) shoots against the Philadelphia Flyers at PNC Arena. The Flyers won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2019; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (19) shoots against the Philadelphia Flyers at PNC Arena. The Flyers won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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MIKE REILLY

The Ottawa Senator-turned-Boston Bruin Reilly has enjoyed a sneaky good season this year. He has registered 25 assists between the two clubs despite scoring no goals and is logging a healthy 21:07 of ice time per game with the Bruins so far.

Reilly started the season off with the rebuilding Senators and registered 19 assists in 40 games with Ottawa before being shipped up to Boston for a 2022 3rd-round pick at the trade deadline. Reilly now has tacked on another six assists in 11 games as a Bruin.

Boston’s total even strength save percentage with Reilly on the ice is an astounding .952, a very far cry from Ottawa’s .889 with the defensive and goaltending struggles they’ve endured in a season of growing pains. Reilly’s PDO in a Bruins uniform is also at an astute 104.9, and both of these numbers can be attributed to being collected in a small sample size but Reilly has flourished and grown quickly in his role with his new team.

Reilly’s defensive zone start percentage has been heavily relaxed since joining the Bruins, as it’s dipped from 59.3% to 51.7%, giving him more opportunities to play in the offensive zone and help his team make plays and produce on the scoreboard and so far, it’s working.

The 27 year-old also has some prior history with Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher, as Fletcher signed Reilly as a free agent back in 2015 with the Minnesota Wild. Reilly could not reach an agreement with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who originally drafted him in 2011, and Fletcher took full advantage as he had also seen quite a bit of Reilly at the nearby University of Minnesota when he was defending for the Golden Gophers.

Fletcher gave Reilly his first NHL contract and yes, he did trade Reilly in 2018 to the Montreal Canadiens, but the connection between player and executive is definitely something worth noting as Reilly hits free agency this year and Fletcher is in the market to bolster his defensive group.

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