The Canes relied heavily on defenseman Mike Reilly last season, dressing him in nearly half of their regular-season games as a depth option on the blue line. With the player re-signed this offseason, the team now faces questions about his role moving forward—whether he’ll remain a key rotational piece or take on a more specialized backup function. As the roster reshapes, Reilly’s availability and impact could prove pivotal in determining the defense’s depth and flexibility. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how his usage evolves in the coming campaign.

Last season, the Canes needed the services of Mike Reilly, who started the year as the team's healthy extra on the blue line, for 42 of their 82 regular-season games. Re-signed last week, how does he ...