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John-Michael Liles

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John-Michael Liles
Liles with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2012
Born (1980-11-25) November 25, 1980 (age 43)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for Colorado Avalanche
Toronto Maple Leafs
Carolina Hurricanes
Boston Bruins
National team  United States
NHL draft 159th overall, 2000
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2003–2017

John-Michael Liles (born November 25, 1980) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins. In addition to his playing career, Liles is a minority owner of the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League (USHL).[1]

Playing career

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Amateur

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Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and raised in Zionsville, Indiana, Liles played most of his minor hockey in nearby Carmel before entering the Culver Military Academy in Culver.[citation needed] As a youth, he played in the 1994 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Indianapolis.[2]

At Culver, Liles lettered in ice hockey and golf. In hockey, he was the varsity "B" team's MVP. He also played on the Varsity "A" team as a sophomore. Liles was then invited and selected to play in the U.S. National Team Development Program based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in which he was an integral part of the blueline in both the under-17s and −18 squads. In the 1999–2000 season, he was recruited to play collegiate hockey with Michigan State University of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and as a Freshman led the defensemen in scoring with an impressive 28 points in 40 games.[citation needed]

Emerging as an offensive talent, though hindered by size, Liles was drafted in the fifth round, 159th overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. Alongside teammate Brad Fast, Liles formed a star offensive duo among Spartan defensemen and in his sophomore year, he scored 25 points in 42 contests to be named to the All-CCHA Second Team. In the 2001–02 season, Liles led the entire Spartans team in scoring with 35 points, earning him a selection to the All-CCHA First Team and Second All-American Team.[3] On October 6, 2001, Liles also took part in the famous Cold War outdoor game, which at that time held the attendance record for an ice hockey game, against the University of Michigan.[citation needed]

During his senior season with the Spartans, Liles again led the team in scoring, registering 50 points in just 39 games while helping Michigan State to a 23–14–2 record.[3] Earning the CCHA Best Offensive Defensemen Award for the second consecutive year, he scored an average of 1.28 points per game for Michigan State and was also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.[4]

Professional

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Colorado Avalanche

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After completing his collegiate career, Liles signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche on March 29, 2003. Signing an amateur try-out contract the following day with Colorado's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hershey Bears, Liles made his professional debut against the Grand Rapids Griffins on March 30 and played in ten games to end the 2002–03 season.

In the 2003–04 season, Liles made the Avalanche roster out of college and scored his first NHL goal and point, a game-winner, against the Minnesota Wild on October 16, 2003.[5] He led all rookie defensemen with ten goals and 34 points in 79 games to be named to the NHL All-Rookie Team while also becoming the highest point-scoring rookie defenseman in Avalanche history, and second in franchise history since Bruce Bell's 37 with the Quebec Nordiques in 1984–85.[6]

During the NHL lockout the next season, Liles enjoyed a brief stint in the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for the Iserlohn Roosters, playing in 17 contests and scoring 11 points. He then returned to the Avalanche for the 2005–06 season and established himself within the Avalanche defensive corps, appearing in all 82 regular season games and finishing tied in first in goals scored by a defenseman with Rob Blake, with 14. Improving his offensive numbers in every category, Liles also set a new team record among defensemen with 14 points scored in the month of October. Following another impressive season, he then signed a two-year contract extension on July 12, 2006.[7]

With the arrival of rookie Paul Stastny surprisingly making the team in 2006–07, Liles relinquished his number 26 jersey, worn by former Quebec Nordiques great Peter Šťastný, for Paul Stastny to wear in honor of his father.[8] With the change to the number 4 jersey, Liles led the Avalanche defense in scoring with 14 goals and 44 points, placing tenth in the NHL. In reaching his tenth goal against the Dallas Stars on December 27, 2006, Liles became the first defensemen in the NHL since Steve Duchesne in 1987–88 to score at least ten goals in his first three NHL seasons.[9]

Liles with the Avalanche in 2007.

After suffering the disappointment of failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in Avalanche History, Liles helped lead the team return to the post-season in 2007–08. On December 17, 2007, he recorded two helpers against the Los Angeles Kings to surpass 100 career assists in the NHL.[10] Despite leading the defense in scoring for a second consecutive year, he recorded a career-low six goals for 32 points in 81 games. On the eve of the beginning of the free agency period, on July 1, Liles was re-signed to a new four-year contract with the Avalanche on June 30, 2008.[11]

In the 2008–09 season, Liles rebounded offensively to again top all Avalanche defensemen in goals with 12, and ranked fourth on the team in points with 39 as the struggling Avalanche finished 27th in the NHL, its worst-ever finish under the Avalanche name.[12] Transitioning into a senior role for the Colorado defense, Liles scored his 50th career goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 29, 2009, to become only the fifth defender in Quebec/Colorado history to achieve the feat.[13]

Hampered by a re-occurring shoulder injury midway through the 2009–10 season, Liles also struggled with returning to form and was a healthy scratch for a brief period for the first time in his NHL career.[14] Despite playing in a career-low 59 regular season games for 31 points, he still led the resurgent youth-laden Avalanche team in defenseman scoring for a fourth consecutive season.

To begin the 2010–11 season, Liles made NHL and franchise history when he recorded an assist in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on October 26, 2010, giving him assists in nine consecutive games to open the season.[15] Despite the Avalanche failing to qualify for the 2011 playoffs, Liles accumulated a career-high 40 assists in 76 games played.

Toronto Maple Leafs

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On June 24, 2011, Liles was traded by the Avalanche to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.[16] He scored his first goal as a Maple Leaf in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. On January 25, 2012, Liles signed a four-year, $15.5 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs.[17] On October 1, 2013, after being waived by the Maple Leafs, he was assigned to the team's AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.[18] He was later recalled to the NHL on October 28, sent back on November 15, and then recalled again on December 6.

Carolina Hurricanes

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On January 1, 2014, Liles was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, along with Toronto prospect Dennis Robertson, in exchange for defenseman Tim Gleason,[19] just minutes before the former was scheduled to play for the Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL Winter Classic against the Detroit Red Wings.[20]

Boston Bruins

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On February 29, 2016, Liles was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Anthony Camara, a 2016 third-round pick and a 2017 fifth-round pick.[21]

On July 1, 2016, he re-signed a one-year deal, worth $2 million with the Bruins. In his second season with the Bruins in 2016-17, restricted by injury and also reassigned to a depth role, Liles appeared in just 36 games with the Bruins totalling 5 assists.

Retirement

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Due to a concussion in his final year with Boston, Liles opted to end his 14-year professional career, returning to Colorado with his family and accepting a part-time role as a studio analyst for Altitude Sports in covering the Colorado Avalanche.[22] He appears on the network live during Avalanche game intermissions from his home in Vail, Colorado.[23]

International play

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Initially, Liles was selected to play for Team USA in the 2000 World Junior Championships in Umeå, Sweden, but suffered an injured shoulder in the last minute of the last exhibition game to rule him out of the tournament.[24] During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Liles made his international debut when he was recalled prior to his European stint with the DEL's Islerhohn Roosters as an injury replacement for Hal Gill for the 2004 World Cup.[25] After scoring in his first exhibition game against Russia, Liles played in two games during the World Cup.[26]

Liles' place was retained within Team USA when he was named, alongside future teammate Jordan Leopold, as a part of the young core of the squad to appear at the 2005 World Championships.[27] Liles, however, went pointless in seven games before the U.S. finished in sixth place after elimination in the quarter-finals to the tournament's eventual gold medalists, the Czech Republic.

During the 2005–06 season, Liles was named to Team USA for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.[28] He appeared in all six games for the underwhelming U.S. team, recording two assists before suffering elimination in a quarter-final loss to Finland, 4–3.[29]

Three years later, Liles returned to Team USA when he was added to the team's roster for the 2009 World Championships following Colorado's cellar-dwelling season in 2008–09.[30] He finished the tournament with the most points on the team, as well as second-most overall amongst tournament defenseman, scoring nine points from nine games. Team USA ended up fourth overall, losing the bronze medal game to Sweden.[31]

Personal life

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Liles married fiancée Erin Johnson in 2013.[32] Together they have two daughters.[33] He regularly posts on X (Twitter) under @hoosierjm26 supporting Altitude Sports and the Colorado Avalanche.[34]

Records

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  • Longest consecutive point-scoring streak for an NHL defenseman from the start of season, 9.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1995–96 Culver Academies HS-Prep — — — — — — — — — —
1996–97 Culver Academies HS-Prep — — — — — — — — — —
1997–98 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 5 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
1997–98 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 15 0 6 6 4 — — — — —
1997–98 U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 42 4 7 11 40 5 2 0 2 0
1998–99 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 46 4 14 18 47 — — — — —
1998–99 U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 13 2 5 7 6 — — — — —
1999–00 Michigan State University CCHA 40 8 20 28 26 — — — — —
2000–01 Michigan State University CCHA 42 7 18 25 28 — — — — —
2001–02 Michigan State University CCHA 41 13 22 35 18 — — — — —
2002–03 Michigan State University CCHA 39 16 34 50 46 — — — — —
2002–03 Hershey Bears AHL 5 0 1 1 4 5 0 0 0 2
2003–04 Colorado Avalanche NHL 79 10 24 34 28 11 0 1 1 4
2004–05 Iserlohn Roosters DEL 17 5 6 11 24 — — — — —
2005–06 Colorado Avalanche NHL 82 14 35 49 44 9 1 2 3 6
2006–07 Colorado Avalanche NHL 71 14 30 44 44 — — — — —
2007–08 Colorado Avalanche NHL 81 6 26 32 26 10 2 3 5 2
2008–09 Colorado Avalanche NHL 75 12 27 39 31 — — — — —
2009–10 Colorado Avalanche NHL 59 6 25 31 30 6 1 1 2 4
2010–11 Colorado Avalanche NHL 76 6 40 46 35 — — — — —
2011–12 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 66 7 20 27 20 — — — — —
2012–13 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 32 2 9 11 4 4 0 0 0 2
2013–14 Toronto Marlies AHL 16 3 10 13 14 — — — — —
2013–14 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 6 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2013–14 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 35 2 7 9 8 — — — — —
2014–15 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 57 2 20 22 14 — — — — —
2015–16 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 64 6 9 15 16 — — — — —
2015–16 Boston Bruins NHL 17 0 6 6 2 — — — — —
2016–17 Boston Bruins NHL 36 0 5 5 4 6 0 2 2 0
NHL totals 836 87 283 370 286 46 4 9 13 18

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2004 United States WCH 4th 2 0 0 0 0
2005 United States WC 6th 7 0 0 0 0
2006 United States OG 8th 6 0 2 2 2
2009 United States WC 4th 9 1 8 9 2
Senior totals 24 1 10 11 4

Awards and honors

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Award Year
College
All-CCHA Second Team 2001
All-CCHA First Team 2002, 2003
CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman 2002, 2003
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 2002
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2003
NHL
All-Rookie Team 2004

References

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  1. ^ "NHL'er Liles joins Ice ownership". United States Hockey League. 2007-06-19. Archived from the original on 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  2. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  3. ^ a b "MSU PlayerBio: John-Michael Liles". Michigan State University. 2003-12-21. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  4. ^ "Ten finalists named for Hobey Baker Award". ESPN. 2003-03-22. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  5. ^ "Colorado offense dominant". ESPN. 2003-10-16. Archived from the original on December 14, 2003. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  6. ^ Terry Frei (2004-03-05). "Liles valuable on a team of Vets". ESPN. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  7. ^ "Liles agrees to terms with Avalanche". Colorado Avalanche. 2006-07-12. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  8. ^ "Avs defenceman Liles gives up No. 26 so Stastny can wear father's number". The Hockey News. 2006-10-21. Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  9. ^ "High-scoring Avs defenseman Liles to miss four weeks". ESPN. 2007-01-08. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  10. ^ "Avalanche ride three-goal first period to victory against Kings". CBS Sports. 2007-12-17. Archived from the original on 2012-10-13. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  11. ^ "Avalanche re-sign defenseman Liles, Foote". TSN. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  12. ^ Frei, Terry (2009-01-02). "Avs defenseman lighting the lamp after a poor 2007–08". Denver Post. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  13. ^ "Maple Leafs defeat Avalanche in 7–4 goal-fest". CBS Sports. 2009-02-28. Archived from the original on 2012-10-13. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  14. ^ Terry Frei (2010-02-06). "John-Michael Liles a "healthy scratch" again". Denver Post. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  15. ^ "Liles happy with record, would rather have victory". National Hockey League. 2010-10-27. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  16. ^ "Maple Leafs acquire defenseman Liles from Avalanche". The Sports Network. 2011-06-24. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  17. ^ "Maple Leafs Sign Liles to four-year contract extension". The Sports Network. 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  18. ^ "Leafs D Liles clears waivers; assigned to AHL". tsn.ca. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  19. ^ "Leafs Recall John-Michael Liles". Toronto Maple Leafs. 2013-12-06. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  20. ^ "Maple Leafs add Tim Gleason in deal with Hurricane". USA Today. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  21. ^ "Bruins make last minute trades with Lee Stempniak and John-Michael Liles". ESPN. 2016-02-29. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  22. ^ "John-Michael Liles joins Marc Moser show". Altitude Sports. 2017-09-27. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  23. ^ Sam Fels. "Avs announcer John-Michael Liles and his wine cave are a life goal". Deadspin. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  24. ^ "John-Michael Liles Colorado Avalanche:Bio". Colorado Avalanche. 2005-05-10. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  25. ^ Terry Frei (2004-08-31). "Expectations lower for U.S. in hockey". ESPN. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  26. ^ "Liles, Hull score in final tuneup". ESPN. 2004-08-27. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  27. ^ Scott Burnside (2005-04-29). "U.S. Defensemen ready for their roles". ESPN. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  28. ^ "Liles named to U.S. Olympic Team". Colorado Avalanche. 2005-12-19. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  29. ^ "Never-say-die 'tude not enough for Team USA". ESPN. 2006-02-26. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  30. ^ "Liles added to U.S. National Team". Colorado Avalanche. 2010-07-14. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  31. ^ "Liles, Team USA finish fourth at WC". Colorado Avalanche. 2009-05-10. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
  32. ^ Watson, Phillip B. (July 6, 2014). "Indy's John-Michael Liles looking forward to 12th NHL season". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  33. ^ Alexander, Chip (October 25, 2015). "Away from home, Canes stay in touch with family". The News & Observer. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  34. ^ Altitude Sports. "AltitudeTV on X". X. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman
2001–02
2002–03 		Succeeded by
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