CALGARY, Alberta — Mike Reilly, a defenseman with the New York Islanders, is scheduled to have a procedure related to a previously undetected heart condition. This condition was discovered during routine tests conducted after he sustained a concussion earlier this month.

Team general manager Lou Lamoriello explained that the heart issue was identified through echocardiograms as part of Reilly’s evaluation following the concussion. He remarked on Monday that the discovery could be seen as “a blessing in disguise,” given that it revealed something potentially congenital that may have gone unnoticed otherwise.

At 31 years old, Reilly experienced a concussion during a game against Buffalo on November 1. While he has been cleared from concussion symptoms, he will be sidelined indefinitely as he recovers from the heart procedure.

Although there is no specific timeline for Reilly’s return, Lamoriello is optimistic that he will be able to resume playing and maintain a good quality of life moving forward, noting the recovery might take an extended period. “It takes quite a bit of time,” he stated, adding it could be a matter of several months before Reilly is back on the ice.

Reilly has been a member of the Islanders for nearly a year after being claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers. Now in his tenth season in the NHL, he has also played for several teams, including Minnesota, Montreal, Ottawa, and Boston.