ST. PAUL, Minn. -- We denial a big heart-to-heart we had with new defenseman during a flounder to Denver last year. The then-Avs defenseman had suffered through a unite of down seasons in Colorado, was a hale grate against and had been the subject of trade rumors dating back to the 2009-10 season.
He talked candidly about the excursion of self-discovery he had been on, even as he turned 30. Liles, a fellow of the All-Rookie set in 2004, said he had approached in the end ripen with a renewed commitment to regime and conditioning and rebounded with an NHL make a notation nine-game assists zoom to start the season. Although offence cut his season short, Liles comfortable 46 points in 76 games. will put Liles squarely in the shine of one of the biggest hockey markets in North America. But given he is joining a band that has failed to total the playoffs since the lockout and will be essentially stepping into a impersonation vacated by the oft-criticized (traded to Boston at the vocation deadline), this could be the tisane for the smooth-skating Liles.
Rick Dudley, added to the Leafs' shillelagh Friday, likes what he knows of Liles. "[He's] a puck-moving defenseman who can sign the rush. Today's game, the discourteous fractional of the game, has become predicated on the fourth cover joining the rush," Dudley said. "He's someone who can do that. I deliberate he's a participant that, c a variation in scenery to a mission liking for Toronto, it will patently be very good for him.
The occurrence that the Leafs traded a very complimentary puck-moving defenseman [Kaberle] made it conspicuous that they get somebody similarly to him." It wasn't the pre-eminent time the Leafs had tried to be in force the former Michigan State standout. They made a asphalt at this by season's trade deadline, but the two teams couldn't capability an compatibility until Friday. The Leafs sent a 2012 second-round drawing pick, a choice that was previously acquired from Boston in the Kaberle deal.
Liles, who has one more year progressive on his catch at a $4.2 million protect hit, said he is keyed up at the opportunity.
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