John-Michael Liles
Position: Defenseman
Draft position: 5th round, 159th-overall
Years in the NHL: 14 (2003-04 to 2016-17)
Years with the Colorado Avalanche: 7 (2003-04 to 2010-11)
All Time Stats: 836 games played, 370 points (87 goals, 283 assists)
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John-Michael Liles enjoyed a 15-year NHL career despite being chosen in the fifth round, 159th-overall, in 2000. Seven of those seasons were with the Colorado Avalanche.
An offensive defenseman, Liles recorded 370 points (87 goals, 283 assists) in 836 NHL games. He completed four years at Michigan State University before joining the Avalanche’s AHL-affiliate, the Hershey Bears, for a year.
In his 523 games with Colorado, Liles scored 68 goals and recorded 207 assists. Clearly those were his most productive years. Unfortunately, a lingering shoulder injury hampered him. As his production lagged, the Avs traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a second-rounder in 2011.
This pick jumped between five different teams. It was part of the package that brought Semyon Varlamov to Colorado.
John-Michael Liles retired from the Boston Bruins at the end of the 2016-17 season. He now works with the Colorado Avalanche, usually offering analysis for Altitude TV.
Before even coming home to Colorado, Liles talked about his ties to Denver:
Not even all first-rounders pan out, and even second-rounders regularly get relegated to the minors. The above players got selected between the fifth to seventh rounds yet had successful careers with the Avs and beyond.
Next: Update on Avs Players in the AHL
The Colorado Avalanche currently have 13 late-rounders either in the system or still eligible for an entry-level contract. Can any of them be a success with the team? Hey, as the above players — and Luc Robitaille — showed us, they can indeed.