John-Michael Liles, Compliance Buyout?

[DD03]

9 games in and we want to buy out one of our better defense-men.. Knee jerk decisions or what

 

[diceman934]

It was poor asset management by Burke.....he signed a concussed player who will not be around when we are going to be a competitive team to a four year deal at 3.75 per.

Hated that deal then and still do now. Lots of people on here attacked me and said it was a great signing and he signed for a discount.

 

[mrsauve]

Forget liles... Phanuef and kessel should be moved before we are forced to resign them or loose them for nothing..
Phaneuf shoots way too much for a player that can NEVER hit the net.

 

[thinkinfeller]

I'm not sure if there is a single guy on this team who's really getting it done right now. Unfortunately, Gardiner, Rielly, Blacker, Finn, etc, are not going to fix our problems on the blueline - inserting these guys in our line up now will likely only ruin them.

Properly developing a prospect, no matter how skilled, includes sheltering them behind competent veteran players who are able to not only show them the ropes, but also keep the heat off so that they can continue to develope.

I would prefer that Gardiner and Rielly were kept as far away from this motley crue as possible.

Does anyone have any first hand information regarding Captain Dion's leadership skills? He doesn't seem to do much leading on the ice. I think the deconstruction of our blueline begins with him. This Koska experiment has me scratching a hole through my head, and I've been less than impressed with Liles, Franson, and the rest of our Marlies call-ups this year.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Liles this year is getting exposed on the cycle game. Dealing with big forwards is a huge problem for him. It kind of erases the fact that he can skate ok. Liles though doesnt puck rush to any effectiveness like Gardiner can. Liles has a big contract and looks timid after his latest concussion. I think his contract is terrible, as is Grabovski. Grabo has talent, but how often does he really show up? When your highest paid guys dog it, your in trouble.

 

[Hyperglide]

He's just struggling atm. Give him a bit of time his confidence is just shot and he's still a bit timid but the guy is still a veteran who skates like the wind and move a puck as good as any defensemen in the league. I'm surprised he's not on the PP. Not sure what the reason is and why Carlyle is playing Costco so much. Maybe they are showcasing him?

The entire team sucks right now so even our higher paid vets are looking like garbage. Look at Dion.

 

[Grandrift145]

there will always be a new person to buy out after every loss

 

[The Missing Piece]

We should buy out the whole team so we have 64.3 million in cap space next season!

 

[rumman]

Liles was a great PP specialist on the Av's, it's only since he's joined the Leafs he's faltered, he should be on the number 1 power play unit, let gun shy Dion sit on the bench, then watch the PP improve!

 

[Jerkini]

I may be mistaken, but I'm under the impression we can only amnesty one player at the end of the year. If that is accurate, it has to be Mike Komisarek.

 

[TheProspector]

Liles has 4A in 9GP with an even +/-. That means he's on pace for a 36P full season.

Not really sure I see the struggling others do.

 

[Parkdale]

It's amusing how buyouts are thrown-out like it's nothing but monopoly monies. True, it's not our money and there is a perception that MLSE has it to burn. Nevertheless, there is no surer demonstration of managerial incompetence than using a buyout to get the cap in line and at best is an insurance policy that is never used. That said, the compliance buyout features does represent a unique opportunity.

I think it is way way too premature to suggest Liles' contract might be a candidate for the compliance buyout. Have we learned nothing by observing that each person comes back at a different rate and pattern from a concussion? Liles has not returned to his pre-concussion form, but there is a good chance he will given time. Since there is still a compliance window after 13/14, that would be the time to revisit this idea.

 

[Moncherry]

Liles was a great PP specialist on the Av's, it's only since he's joined the Leafs he's faltered

No he hasn't.

 

[rumman]

No he hasn't.

certainly hasn't excelled, misused IMO

 

[threeGo]

This is absolute idiocracy.

If we buy him out who do we bring in? Our remaining D core would be: Phaneuf, Gardiner, Komisarek, Franson, Gunnarsson, Fraser, Kostka. Out of that group only Phaneuf, Gardiner and Gunnar are able to handle 20+ minutes a game.

Liles has probably been our best two-way defenceman this year (not saying much but its true). He moves the puck well, is strong on his feet, and along with Gunnar is the only guy who isnt prone to fumbling the puck in the d-zone

It's called doing a tank! But I'd buy him out in 2014 if he doesn't change.

 

[RealisticLeaf55]

This is a joke right? If Carlyle knew how to run an effective powerplay he'd pair Liles back with Neuf and have Gunnar and Franson on the second unit (when Gunnar recovers of course) Liles will only be expendable when both Gardiner and Rielly are ready to over-take his position.

 

[Mess]

I think Nonis will attempt to deal Liles and be willing (and forced) to eat part of his salary if necessary to do so.

Mike Komisarek has the inside track on one of the amnesty buyouts and we will have to see if Nonis uses the other one Liles if required.

I can see Phaneuf, Gunnarsson, Gardiner, Franson, Kostka, and Rielly holding down the 6 spots baring an outside addition with Holzer/Fraser as a 7th spare at present for next year.. A situation that makes both Komi and Liles expendable.

 

[Kb21]

no, he is still a good player and is only struggling because he is in a bad system with a incompetent coach. if he was in philly's system or TB's he would be 40+ points per season.

he also has value, somewhere around a mid tier prospect or a 2nd rounder. his contract really isn't that bad.

 

[Mystifo]

I think Nonis will attempt to deal Liles and be willing (and forced) to eat part of his salary if necessary to do so.

Mike Komisarek has the inside track on one of the amnesty buyouts and we will have to see if Nonis uses the other one Liles if required.

I can see Phaneuf, Gunnarsson, Gardiner, Franson, Kostka, and Rielly holding down the 6 spots baring an outside addition with Holzer/Fraser as a 7th spare at present for next year.. A situation that makes both Komi and Liles expendable.

I really hope we do not run with this just because outside of Gunnarsson we have little to no defensive minded D men and could be in serious trouble.


That being said I did look ahead to the FA for next season and I really do not see any replacements to help us. I guess we could start asking Chicago about Hammer.

 

[King Mapes]

Komi and Liles are the likely duo bought out. Replaced by Holzer and Rielly

 

[diceman934]

I think Nonis will attempt to deal Liles and be willing (and forced) to eat part of his salary if necessary to do so.

Mike Komisarek has the inside track on one of the amnesty buyouts and we will have to see if Nonis uses the other one Liles if required.

I can see Phaneuf, Gunnarsson, Gardiner, Franson, Kostka, and Rielly holding down the 6 spots baring an outside addition with Holzer/Fraser as a 7th spare at present for next year.. A situation that makes both Komi and Liles expendable.

Liles should be trade-able at the deadline if he picks up his play he may even fetch us a slight improvement of what it cost us. Komi may also be a player that we could move if we take back a small part of his salary.....his cap hit is 4.5 million but his salary is 3.5 maybe some value to a team needing salary to reach the floor.

 

[SeenSchenn2]

Uhm, what? He's been pretty good IMO.

Komi and Liles are the likely duo bought out. Replaced by Holzer and Rielly

Holzer ****ing blows. Every time he's been up here he's been brutal. Not even average, flat out brutal. His hits are like Schenn's at times, puts himself out of position. Career AHLer.

 

[AuGsY]

Liles needs to be on on the 1st line PP, otherwise their isn't much of a reason to have him here.

 

[New Liskeard]

It was poor asset management by Burke.....he signed a concussed player who will not be around when we are going to be a competitive team to a four year deal at 3.75 per.

Hated that deal then and still do now. Lots of people on here attacked me and said it was a great signing and he signed for a discount.

Says the poster who made a point that Reilly is a better defenceman than Liles, yet Reilly hasn't even made the NHL yet. Let me guess, it's because Randy has no idea what NHL talent is, especially defenceman? I appreciate your honesty in your dislike towards Liles and Phaneuf, but making unfounded and non factual claims doesnt support your agenda and bias.

 

[New Liskeard]

Let me begin by saying the guy sucks the bag more than a lobotomized Tomas Kaberle. Maybe it's a result of his concussion last year, maybe it's because he's a tiny 32 year old defenseman on the downside of his career, so we can't fault our senior citizens for not being able to win puck battles in the corner, win a foot race to get to an icing, or be fit to quarterback a powerplay over a career minor leaguer or head up the transition game.

Whatever it is, Liles probably shouldn't have gotten that sweet retirement package Burke handed out last year. That said, do we buy him out in the offseason? Do we make sure to ship him out if possible during the deadline? What do you do with a pint of a guy like this?

Must not have anything else to talk about. Liles has been fine, and played relatively well. I guess making a fuss of something is a good way to stir the pot?