John-Michael Liles

Lore & Background

Liles grew up in Zionsville, Indiana, and became interested in hockey after watching the Indianapolis Checkers. He played for the Indy Wings and competed in the 1994 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. He attended Culver Academies for two years before joining the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. Liles played college hockey at Michigan State University from 1999 to 2003, majoring in finance. He led the Spartans in scoring in his junior and senior seasons, earning All-CCHA First Team and Second All-American Team honors, and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

Drafted 159th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2000 NHL entry draft, Liles made the Avalanche roster in 2003–04 and led all rookie defensemen with ten goals and 34 points, earning a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team. He played for the Iserlohn Roosters in the German DEL during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. Liles was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2011, then to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2014, and finally to the Boston Bruins in 2016. He re-signed with the Bruins for the 2016–17 season but was limited by injury to 36 games with five assists. A concussion in his final year with Boston led to his retirement after 14 professional seasons.

Reader's Guide

John-Michael Liles carved a notable career as an offensive defenseman, beginning with his collegiate success at Michigan State University, where he twice led the team in scoring and was a Hobey Baker Award finalist. In the NHL, he made an immediate impact with the Colorado Avalanche, becoming the highest-scoring rookie defenseman in franchise history and earning NHL All-Rookie Team honors. He consistently led Avalanche defensemen in scoring for several seasons, setting a team record for points by a defenseman in October 2005. Liles also made NHL history by recording assists in nine consecutive games to open the 2010–11 season. After trades to Toronto, Carolina, and Boston, his career was curtailed by a concussion sustained during his final season with the Bruins, prompting his retirement. Beyond playing, Liles became a minority owner of the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League.

Did You Know?

• He led all rookie defensemen in goals and points during the 2003–04 NHL season.
• Liles recorded assists in nine consecutive games to open the 2010–11 season, an NHL and franchise record.