B.C. Lions

Ottawa completes trade for Mike Reilly…

by
3Down Staff
January 4, 2020

There was a trade between two Canadian franchises involving Mike Reilly.

Mike Reilly the defenceman. Not Mike Reilly the quarterback.

Reilly the NHL player was acquired by Ottawa from Montreal in exchange for forward Andrew Sturtz and a fifth round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft. It marked the Senators first transaction with the Canadiens since June 24, 2001.

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When news circulated around the nation’s capital, Ottawa Redblacks faithful thought a new franchise quarterback was on the way. Instead, it was an impact D-man on the ice. False alarm for the football followers.

I now realize the news that Ottawa has acquired Mike Reilly may have inadvertently made Redblacks fans excited.

— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) January 2, 2020

According to The Hockey News Reilly has tremendous offensive ability, as he sees the ice well and has excellent mobility. Those traits would be a great description for the CFL’s Reilly. But the quarterback Reilly remains with the B.C. Lions.

General manager Ed Hervey paid $2.9 million over four years — $725,000 per season — for Reilly to sign on the dotted line in February 2019. That made the 34-year-old the highest-paid player in the league. It would take more than a draft pick and a player to pry Reilly out of B.C.

The day after the Senators made the deal for Reilly, the Redblacks traded for the rights to quarterback Nick Arbuckle. Potentially the QB of the future in Ottawa.