I frankly don't see the Rafalski comparisons with Liles that others do. If I had to compare him to other current NHL defenders I would say he's more like Niedermayer.
As far as I can tell the Rafalski comparisons come purely by height and perhaps outlet passing. Liles has doesn't really have the Rafalski body type except in the height department.
Liles as far as I can tell is really a hugh anomoly among modern day defensemen. He's shorter with a smaller build (He's built like a slightly taller St. Louis). He's basically a defenseman with forward size and skill set that's always played defense.
His skating is the best among all Avalanche defensemen, and that includes Foote. His transitional skating, speed and skating motion are exceptional. A reason he gets away with playing on an NHL blue line considering his size and reach.
His wrist shot and snap shots have very good accuracy. He doesn't produce the velocity of a Blake slap shot but he's the most accurate shooter on the Avalanche blue line. You really don't see defensemen on breakaways all that much but Liles did more than a few times in rookie/training camp and he could pick top corner both on the forehand and backhand with regularity (and velocity).
He's a heads up skater with great puck control, a reason he's avoided the big hit and how he's quarterbacked the powerplay.
Liles makes up for his size in the defensive zone several ways. His skating puts him ahead of opposing forward skating lanes more often than not. His transitional backwards skating and positioning complement a refined poke check that gives forwards issues either dancing around him or trying to bulldog him to the front of the net. Liles has good positioning. Liles uses some ungodly hollow on his skate for work in the corners. I've seen Liles time and again this year pin large forwards along the glass. Granted, he's no Foote or Bourque that can pich a guy off the glass, gain control of the puck and make the break out pass all in four seconds. But I did watch him actually pull a David vs. Goliath against Laraque by sealing him against the boards until help arrived to get the loose puck on the boards. Liles just gets on his skate angles and uses some good leverage to accomplish this.
Like I said, I don't know of a modern day NHL defensemen that's of Lile's mold. He is for all intense and purpose playing out of position. But he's managed to prove a lot of people wrong, from college and through rookie/training camp.
I can't really comment on Klesla because I haven't watched nor followed him closely enough. But I'd hazard a guess that Liles will garner a lot more attention the longer he's in the NHL. Things are still early but I'm pretty exited to see an NHL player like Liles make some noise. Especially in the size obsessed NHL of recent years.
As far as I can tell the Rafalski comparisons come purely by height and perhaps outlet passing. Liles has doesn't really have the Rafalski body type except in the height department.
Liles as far as I can tell is really a hugh anomoly among modern day defensemen. He's shorter with a smaller build (He's built like a slightly taller St. Louis). He's basically a defenseman with forward size and skill set that's always played defense.
His skating is the best among all Avalanche defensemen, and that includes Foote. His transitional skating, speed and skating motion are exceptional. A reason he gets away with playing on an NHL blue line considering his size and reach.
His wrist shot and snap shots have very good accuracy. He doesn't produce the velocity of a Blake slap shot but he's the most accurate shooter on the Avalanche blue line. You really don't see defensemen on breakaways all that much but Liles did more than a few times in rookie/training camp and he could pick top corner both on the forehand and backhand with regularity (and velocity).
He's a heads up skater with great puck control, a reason he's avoided the big hit and how he's quarterbacked the powerplay.
Liles makes up for his size in the defensive zone several ways. His skating puts him ahead of opposing forward skating lanes more often than not. His transitional backwards skating and positioning complement a refined poke check that gives forwards issues either dancing around him or trying to bulldog him to the front of the net. Liles has good positioning. Liles uses some ungodly hollow on his skate for work in the corners. I've seen Liles time and again this year pin large forwards along the glass. Granted, he's no Foote or Bourque that can pich a guy off the glass, gain control of the puck and make the break out pass all in four seconds. But I did watch him actually pull a David vs. Goliath against Laraque by sealing him against the boards until help arrived to get the loose puck on the boards. Liles just gets on his skate angles and uses some good leverage to accomplish this.
Like I said, I don't know of a modern day NHL defensemen that's of Lile's mold. He is for all intense and purpose playing out of position. But he's managed to prove a lot of people wrong, from college and through rookie/training camp.
I can't really comment on Klesla because I haven't watched nor followed him closely enough. But I'd hazard a guess that Liles will garner a lot more attention the longer he's in the NHL. Things are still early but I'm pretty exited to see an NHL player like Liles make some noise. Especially in the size obsessed NHL of recent years.
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:p
