JM Liles vs Jordon Leopold

[Mike Krushelnyski]

The skinny:

Jordon Leopold - 24 years old - 6'0 193 lbs (according to TSN)

Season totals:
2003-04 Calgary NHL 82 9 24 33 +8
2002-03 Calgary NHL 58 4 10 14 -15
ATOI/g: 22:13; PPTOI/g: 3:51; SHTOI/g: 2:45

- Drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim the 2nd round (44th overall) in 1999
- 01-02 Hobey Baker winner (Top U.S. Collegiate Player)
- Made Derek Morris expendable in Calgary
- Considered to be a key core of the Flames blueline along with Reghr and Phaneuf
- The Bad: already a couple of concussions under his belt

John-Michael Liles - 24 years old - 5'10 185 lbs

- season totals:
2003-04 Colorado NHL 79 10 24 34 +7
ATOI/g: 16:13; PPTOI/g: 2:42; SHTOI/g: 0:18

- Drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 5th round (159th overall) in 2000
- 03-04 NHL All-Rookie Team
- Made Derek Morris expendable in Colorado
- Considered to be the heir apparent to Rob Blake
- The Bad: undersized for a defenseman

At first blush, both players seem to be very comperable - similar stats (keeping in mind that we're comparing Liles' 1st year stats to Leopold's 2nd year stats), not overly big for D-man by NHL standards, and they both made Derek Morris expendable on their respective clubs.

So the question is this: long-term, who will be the better D-man - both offensively and defensively?

Discuss.

Click to read more...

 

[Bruins4Ever]

The skinny:

Jordon Leopold - 24 years old - 6'0 193 lbs (according to TSN)

Season totals:
2003-04 Calgary NHL 82 9 24 33 +8
2002-03 Calgary NHL 58 4 10 14 -15
ATOI/g: 22:13; PPTOI/g: 3:51; SHTOI/g: 2:45

- Drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim the 2nd round (44th overall) in 1999
- 01-02 Hobey Baker winner (Top U.S. Collegiate Player)
- Made Derek Morris expendable in Calgary
- Considered to be a key core of the Flames blueline along with Reghr and Phaneuf
- The Bad: already a couple of concussions under his belt

John-Michael Liles - 24 years old - 5'10 185 lbs

- season totals:
2003-04 Colorado NHL 79 10 24 34 +7
ATOI/g: 16:13; PPTOI/g: 2:42; SHTOI/g: 0:18

- Drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 5th round (159th overall) in 2000
- 03-04 NHL All-Rookie Team
- Made Derek Morris expendable in Colorado
- Considered to be the heir apparent to Rob Blake
- The Bad: undersized for a defenseman

At first blush, both players seem to be very comperable - similar stats (keeping in mind that we're comparing Liles' 1st year stats to Leopold's 2nd year stats), not overly big for D-man by NHL standards, and they both made Derek Morris expendable on their respective clubs.

So the question is this: long-term, who will be the better D-man - both offensively and defensively?

Discuss.

Liles will be better offensively

Leopold will be better defensively

Leopold will be the more rounded and better, but not by much

 

[ALF AmericanLionsFan]

Leopold will be more well rounded, but I wouldn't be surprised if he produces more offense than people expect.

 

[Habsfan 32]

Leopold is and will be better overall and I think he can hit more then Liles.

 

[hockeyfan125]

Leopold easily.

 

[Big Deaner]

Leopold easily.

Ditto.

 

[Jared Ramsden]

Leopold easily.

Nothing against Liles, but Leopold hands down is better.

 

[rtafts]

Leopold, but Liles is awesome too.

 

[markov`]

It is the first time I realize that Leopold was drafted by Anaheim.

When was he traded, for who?

 

[hockeyfan125]

It is the first time I realize that Leopold was drafted by Anaheim.

When was he traded, for who?

Andrei Nazarov, I believe, in 2001. Not totally sure on the year.

 

[markov`]

Andrei Nazarov, I believe, in 2001. Not totally sure on the year.

And some HF Boards poster at the moment probably said... "what a dumb trade. Why trading such a proven guy for an unestablished one."

 

[Jacob]

Leopold, I think. He's a little more proven. While I think Liles is great, I'm not quite sold on him yet.

 

[God Bless Canada]

Leopold's a star in the making. He'll be a No. 1, two-way defenceman in a couple years and an anchor for the Team USA defence. He showed how good he could be in last year's playoffs.

Liles is more of a second pairing defenceman whose calling card will be his offensive/PP QB abilities, more of a Bryan Berard type.

 

[Legionnaire]

Again, I must ask why is this on the prosepect board?

 

[Team_Spirit]

And some HF Boards poster at the moment probably said... "what a dumb trade. Why trading such a proven guy for an unestablished one."

Nazarov is a goon and they are waiver materials ... either way he found his way back in Calgary few years later .

Trade was 2nd pick + Nazarov for Leopold ... They used the pick to select some random Russian who never turned pro .

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Give liles another year and then we can watch again.

Liles rookie year was much more impressive than leopold rookie year.

Right now Leoplod looks more proven and better defensively so my vote goes leopold. Liles only better offensively little.

 

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Trade was 2nd pick + Nazarov for Leopold ... They used the pick to select some random Russian who never turned pro .

Nope. They used to pick to trade with Phoenix for Keith Carney. So from Anaheim's end it turned out to be Leopold for Nazarov and Carney.

Phoenix then used the pick to trade up in the first round in 2001 and land Fredrik Sjostrom. So Calgary got the pick back eventually and used it to select Andrei Taratukhin. So from Calgary's end it kinda works out to Nazarov + Sjostrom (or Hemsky or Hamhuis) for Kobasew, Taratukhin and Leopold.

 

[PuckFan01]

Leopold is better. No doubt in my mind.

 

[Ice Cream Man]

Nazarov is a goon and they are waiver materials ... either way he found his way back in Calgary few years later .

No he didn't. You must be thinking of Jason Weimer; Nazarov never returned to the Flames organization.

As for the comparison, I'd most definently take Leopold. He's established himself as a #2 defenseman in Calgary, and plays solid two-way hockey, with his offense potential still largely untapped. I see him in the future possibly as captain because of his leadership qualities.

That said, I'd still like to have Liles on my team, no doubt.

 

[ryz]

As a Flames fan, we are excited about Leopld's future. He could turn into a lesser Scott Neidermeyer for us in the future. How much "lesser" is still to be seen. I don't think there is a Flames fan around who would even explore a Leopold for Liles trade.

 

[Ice Cream Man]

As a Flames fan, we are excited about Leopld's future. He could turn into a lesser Scott Neidermeyer for us in the future. How much "lesser" is still to be seen. I don't think there is a Flames fan around who would even explore a Leopold for Liles trade.

Well, if it was Leopold and (insert Chris Clark) for J.M. Liles and Alex Tanguay, I would.

 

[Spectacular_Bid]

I'm going to disagree with most everyone on here. While I think Leopold is a great young prospect, I give JM the overall nod. At every level Liles has played at, people have doubted him. He proved people wrong at the college level and then again once he got to the NHL. I think that what we have seen from JM Liles is just the beginning!!

 

[hfboardsuser]

Something to chew on:

MA Bergeron (Born 10/13/80)
54 GP, 9-17-26, +13
0.48 PPG
0.30 ES PPG

JM Liles (Born 11/24/80)
79 GP, 10-24-34, +7
0.43 PPG
0.25 ES PPG

Jordan Leopold (Born 8/3/80)
82 GP, 9-24-33, +8
0.40 PPG
0.20 ES PPG