Rick Stewart / Getty Images
By Tony Ambrogio (@SNTonyAmbrogio)
Brian Burke’s costly contracts continue to haunt the Maple Leafs.
It’s a long list: Mikhail Grabovski, Mike Komisarek, and now John-Michael Liles.
Lengthy contracts handed out by former Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke that did not work out.
Liles is the latest one – still with 3 years and a cap hit of $3.875 M.
The team has placed the likeable Liles on waivers. If he isn’t claimed (or traded) the 32 year-old defenceman will join the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies and save the Leafs $925,000 on the cap.
“It’s not something you control as a player whether it’s me or the young guys,” said Liles, hours before he was placed on waivers. “That’s the nature of the game we’re in. The business side is the business side and my job is to take care of playing.”
This must be a tough pill to swallow for Liles, who signed a 4-year contract extension with Burke (while Ron Wilson coached the team) in January of 2012. He took less money than he could have received elsewhere.
He did so because he loved playing in Toronto and wanted to be a part of the future.
At the time he signed his deal said, “I’m not looking at it like I’m taking a pay cut. I look at it like I’m taking a salary to stay where I want to be. It is the centre of the hockey universe. It’s a place where I’ve really enjoyed playing. It’s going to be a sellout every night. Hockey is going to be covered. For me, it’s been fantastic.”
How quickly things change for Liles and the Leafs. Liles never seemed to find a spot in the lineup with Coach Randy Carlyle.
At the end of the day, this is a move that was made for business reasons as much as for hockey decisions.
With John Michael-Liles out of the picture, the Leafs will give 19 year-old Morgan Rielly a chance to start the year with the NHL team.
Because of his age, his options are limited: either the Wetsern Hockey League or the NHL.
Carter Ashton will start the season with the Leafs. The young forward impressed during camp, making the Joe Colborne trade to Calgary possible.
The Leafs will start with 7 defencemen, 14 forwards and 2 goalies on the opening night roster.
The 22 players on the roster and means Toronto has about $65,000 in cap space. That’s cutting it close and explains why Liles was placed on waivers.
Toronto’s opening night roster and cap hit:
13 forwards:
Phil Kessel ($5.4M)
Joffrey Lupul ($5.25M)
David Clarkson ($5.25M)
James van Riemsdyk ($4.25M)
Tyler Bozak ($4.2M)
David Bolland ($3.375M)
Nazem Kadri ($2.9M)
Nikolai Kulemin ($2.8M)
Jay McClement ($1.5M)
Carter Ashton ($1.04M)
Mason Raymond ($1M)
Colton Orr ($925,000)
Frazer McLaren ($700,000)
7 defencemen:
Dion Phaneuf ($6.5M)
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.15M)
Cody Franson ($2M)
Morgan Rielly ($1.74M)
Mark Fraser ($1.25M)
Jake Gardiner ($1.116M)
Paul Ranger ($1M)
2 goalies:
Jonathan Bernier ($2.9M)
James Reimer ($1.8M)
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