In a move that threw many people off today, the Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that the team has signed defenceman John-Michael Liles to a 4 year extension, at 15.5 million total, with a cap hit of 3.875 million a year. Personally, I’ve been crossing my fingers for a long term extension since the start of the season, so I think its great. Others, on the other hand, are irate. They have a few reasons for it, and I understand that, but there’s a couple of flaws in the argument.
“He’s making too much money!”
This is easily the weakest of the arguments. I’ve seen a lot of people worried about the actual dollar figure that he’s making per season, which as stated above is under 4 million a year. To put that in perspective, the deal he’s coming off of right now pays him 4.2 million a year over 4 years, signed at the end of the 2007-08 season. At that point, LIles had come off of down season, earning himself just 32 points in 81 games with the Colorado Avalanche. Since that point, his output has improved on a year by year basis, inching closer to his career high in 2005/06 of 49 points. In fact, he was on pace to break it and gain 50 over 82 games if it wasn’t for injuries this year. Even still, over 35 points in this injury-shortened year isn’t unrealistic. So his overall output is on an upswing instead of a downturn right now. To go with that, the Salary Cap is higher now, meaning he could have the same percentage of a dent while earning more money.
But no. Instead, Liles, who’s been said to be very happy with being in Toronto (and with a 4 year commitment, it shows), took over $300,000 less per year, with the contract still not being a “retirement” contract – he’ll be signing at least one more before the end of his career (where that is remains to be seen). In terms of dollar figure’s, its fantastic for a 45 point defenceman – one could imagine he could’ve gotten himself a deal along the lines of 5 years, 25 million if he actually hit the market on July 1st. While Leafs fans debate how much the team overpaid him, hockey fans across the NHL seem to be reacting in amazement at how little he signed for. Particularly for a guy who gave up his first chance at Unrestricted Free Agency.
“What about his concussion?”
This is admittedly of some concern. After all, he’s still not back in the lineup. At the same time though, I’m sure if there was any problems that concerned the Leafs long term, they would’ve probably checked on such a thing before signing him to a 4 year extension in the middle of January. If they didn’t, it would be nothing short of one of the most ridiculous oversights I’ve ever seen for anyone, ever.
“The contract is too long!”
Four years is absolutely fine. The Leafs are a team that is completely lacking a veteran presence – there are exactly two players that have a 3 to start their age, in Liles and Tim Connolly. Connolly will likely move on after next season. If Liles will be a Leaf until he’s 35, that’s cool. In fact, if this team wants to take a run, adding a few guys who are older is probably a good thing. Simply put – veteran presences are crucial to the development of your younger players. Kevin Shattenkirk even mentioned on twitter today how much of an influence he was on him in Colorado – imagine what Liles is doing for the likes of Gardiner and Gunnarsson? Most of all, vets win championships. For all the hype of having young core players being important to winning a cup in this day and age, those cores had veterans surround them. Don’t believe me? Check out this pic I made for Tumblr (and reblog it and follow me if you’d like, obviously)
..you gotta click it though! /plug
With those rosters looked at – yes, there’s a chance that Liles isn’t as good at the end of his contract as he is right now. But he’s also a skilled defenceman, not a rugged defensive type that starts to wear. And he’s a skilled defenceman that keeps in shape and plays independent of system, not exactly a Tomas Kaberle, who vanished from reality the second he left the blue and white. If a declining Liles is like a declining Rafalski or Gonchar, I’d be more than happy with that.
Players aren’t useless at 35, anyway. I get that the internet wave of Leafs nation is younger than the former outspoken crowd, and that the former outspoken crowd doesn’t want to see the old days where the team is stacks of veterans on top of each other trying to find their way. But you have to inject older presences into a successful team. It’s just reality.
“He’s not very good!”
Tell that to the powerplay unit, that’s doing so good without him. “But it’s not ac-” that was the point. As well, he’s proven to be plenty capable in his own end. Is he at Dion Phaneuf’s level? No, but that’s not easy to do. Is he probably the second best defenceman on the team? I’d say so.
“He’s going to get in the way of people!”
Saying you don’t want to sign a player of Liles’ caliber because you’re worried that he might get in the way of Jake Gardiner or Carl Gunnarsson possibly becoming a Liles-type is pretty sort sighted. It’s not like avenues can’t be looked at to ship somebody out when the time arises. As well, you’re also risking these guys doing well. What if the young kids burn out? Then you’re stuck chasing for someone of his talent level. Better to keep what you have and worry about having too much depth than possibly not having enough. And people throwing Jesse Blacker into the mix? He looks good on the Marlies…but can we wait until he’s at least played a game up here before declaring his talent level?
That said, if Luke Schenn would probably be wise to stay around his phone right now – I wouldn’t be shocked if this means he’ll be on the block. But that’s for a different article all together.
What I guess I’m getting at is…
Having somebody like Liles for as long as the Leafs now do is better than it’s made out to be. He’s a very solid player, looks like he won’t be slowing down just yet, and has a lot to contribute to developing the kids. If they become competition to him, that’s something we can worry about when it actually happens. Until then, this is a superb signing that’s sure to make many GM’s around the league envious, and ensure the Leafs remain a solid team on the rise for the next little while. Let’s see where Burke goes from here.
