A couple of players with significant pro experience look to be heading back to the minors.
On Saturday, the Carolina Hurricanes placed defenseman Mike Reilly on waivers, as did the New York Islanders with forward Kyle MacLean, making them available to the other 31 teams in the NHL.
If both players clear waivers on Sunday, they’ll be eligible to be assigned to their respective American Hockey League affiliates.
Reilly started the 2026-27 season with the Hurricanes, thanks to some preseason injuries for the defending Stanley Cup champions. However, after captain Jordan Staal was activated off injured reserve on Saturday, the team had to make roster space, at Reilly’s expense.
The 33-year-old has only been in the lineup sparingly since the puck dropped on the new campaign. Reilly has appeared in just eight games thus far, last appearance in the lineup on Oct. 18 in a loss to the Calgary Flames. He has yet to find the back of the net, but has registered two assists, a plus/minus of +4, while averaging 12:26 of ice time. It comes after he played 42 games for Carolina last season, including twice in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the Canes went on to win the franchise’s second championship.
In 468 regular-season games in the NHL, Reilly has scored 19 goals and 116 assists for 135 points, including eight points in 23 postseason contests. He’s on a one-year, two-way contract that he signed in September. The deal carries an NHL cap hit of $850,000 and a minor-league salary of $450,000.
MacLean has also been with his NHL team since the onset of the season, but has spent most of the first two months in the press box. The 27-year-old has dressed for just eight games this year, having yet to post a point. He has a -1 rating while averaging 9:48 of ice time per game. MacLean was in the lineup this past Monday, when the Isles lost to the San Jose Sharks in a shootout.
MacLean has appeared in 185 total games in the NHL, both regular-season and playoffs, scoring 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points. He’s in the final season of a three-year contract extension, which he signed in June 2024. The deal has an AAV of $850,000.
