John-Michael Liles raises his game in response to raised expectations
Last season Colorado Avalanche defenceman John-Michael Liles missed playing time as a healthy scratch. Sitting out while ready to go must have been something the 30-year-old was not used to after establishing
himself on the Avalanche's blue line as one of the team's top defenceman, and he has returned from his dissapointing year to become not just his team's, but one of the league's, top scoring defencemen.
After scoring a career high 49 points in 2005-2006, Liles has seen his numbers drop steadily as he recorded a personal low 31 points last season while spending some time in the press box. He has responded
this year by putting up numbers that could have him competing for the Norris Trophy by the end of the season.
Liles is currently tied with Niklas Lidstrom for the league lead in scoring by a defenceman with 20 points, and is averaging a point per game and leading one of the league's most offensive teams. What
is even more amazing is the fact that, on a team that is surrending three goals per game, Liles is plus-11.
"This is my seventh year here and I always looked to improve," Liles said as quoted on NHL.com. "It doesn't matter how old you are – you learn different tricks to be better. Our coaching staff has been
challenging me to use less energy in getting to those open spaces on the ice. Right now, I'm feeling better and better out there on the ice."
According to his coach Joe Sacco, the Avalanche had raised their expectations of Liles and wanted him to become a more consistent points producer. They believed he'd be up to the challenge when they offered
Liles $16.8m over four years to remain with the Avalanche. Liles has so far responded to the burden of expectation admirably.
"My biggest strength is when I'm moving my feet on the ice, finding the open areas and getting the puck to my teammates. I'm never going to be considered a tough player running guys, crashing and banging.
My job is skate the puck up the ice or joining in the rush, helping to create offence."
Liles grew up in a small town just outside Indianapolis Indiana called Zionsville where most kids grow up playing basketball and not hockey – the town does not even boast its own rink. In fact, growing
up, Liles had to travel all the way to Carmel, Indiana just to be able to play in an organized hockey league.
Although hockey does not run through Liles' bloodlines, a determined and tenacious spirit does and it was this spirit which the Avalanche saw when they decided to resign him.
Since breaking into the NHL, Liles has played his entire career with the Colorado Avalanche and Liles never thinks twice about how fortunate he is to be in the position he finds himself, and playing for
a franchise he loves and believes in. In fact, his love for the game and the franchise that drafted him 159th overall in 2000 was instrumental in his deciding to up the level of his game.
"First of all, let me say I love it in Colorado. I wanted to make it work with the Avs," Liles said. "Sometimes, you seek out people who know your game. You know what, the responses I sought out were to
me like 'wow.' The words began to sink in. That was important to me because I wanted to get back on track, trying to re-establish myself this season.
"Sometimes, I take a step back and look at where I am," he added. "I know how lucky I am every day."
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