Draft Day deals begin: John-Michael Liles headed to Toronto
ST. PAUL -- After Thursday's flurry of deals out of Philadelphia, the first trade on Draft Day was consummated hours before Commissioner Gary Bettman steps to the podium inside Xcel Energy Center to announce the 2011 No. 1 selection.
The Colorado Avalanche have sent defenseman John-Michael Liles to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange a 2012 second round pick. That pick was the one acquired by the Leafs in the Tomas Kaberle trade.
Liles was heavily rumored to be on the block before the trading deadline in February with one of the teams interested being Toronto.
Leafs Senior VP of Hockey Operations Dave Nonis said that after talks broke down at the trade deadline, but restarted earlier this week. Nonis said he sees Liles as the now-departed Tomas Kaberle's spot on the Toronto power play.
The 30-year old is entering the final year of his contract and his $4.2 million cap hit leaving the Avs gives them $36 million in room to spend this summer according to CapGeek.
So now the draft drama really picks up. Does Colorado's trading of Liles now mean they won't take forward Gabriel Landeskog at No. 2 and instead go for defenseman Adam Larsson?
