History lesson

John-Michael Liles gets it.

Even though he came from a team that won two Stanley Cups (1995-96 and 2000-01) and joined a team that hasn’t won it since 1967, he understands the rich history of his new employers, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

And even though he was born and raised in Indianapolis, IN, where hockey is about as popular as cricket is in these parts, Liles feels the excitement that is in the air this time of year with the hockey season gearing up.

He understands Leafs Nation.

"There definitely is a sense of history with this team," Liles said. "The best comparison I give to people back home, because people don’t really know hockey that well, is it’s like playing for the New York Yankees. There’s a sense of history; there’s a sense of pride…the crest…the jersey. Regardless of where people grow up, if you play hockey and you play long enough, you understand the history that is attached to this organization.

"You know about the great players who played for the Maple Leafs and the amount of pride the city and the surrounding areas have for this team. It’s something that is a little scary, but at the same time extremely impressive. If you grow up and play in the NHL it’s something you want to be a party of. Whether you play for the Leafs for half a season or for five seasons, you want to always say I was a Toronto Maple Leaf. If you play baseball you want to say I played for the New York Yankees."

Liles was acquired by Toronto this past summer from Colorado in exchange for a 2012 second-round pick; a replacement for the departed Tomas Kaberle, if you will. At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, he’s not the most intimidating defenceman you’ll come up against, but he has terrific offensive instincts and great speed.

In 523 games with the Avalanche, Liles scored 68 goals and 275 points.

He scored a goal in a win over the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night and now has two points in three pre-season games for the Leafs.

Liles grew up cheering for the New York Rangers, and their star defenceman Brian Leetch was his hockey hero. Meanwhile, his high school coach, admired another offence-minded defenceman, Bobby Orr, and it had a profound influence on Liles’ career.

"In Indiana we didn’t get a whole lot of hockey on TV, but when we did it was usually Rangers games," Liles said. "I grew up watching Brian Leetch, a guy I tried to model my game after even though I was a forward up until high school. I played forward and defence. My coach in the ninth grade told me I was playing defence and I would be wearing No. 4. I didn’t really have a choice in the matter. I was okay with it."

Like Orr and Leetch, Liles greatest contribution has come on offence. It is the part of his game he accentuates, although he doesn’t ignore the defensive side.

He is coming off back-to-back, six-goal seasons, although he has scored 14 goals in a season twice and 12 once. Toronto’s power play finished 22nd last season with a 16 per cent success rate and Liles hopes he can help improve on that.

"My role is to hopefully move the puck, make a good first pass and if the opportunity presents itself, join the rush," Liles said. "That’s something I am comfortable doing, but at the same time I try to not sacrifice the defensive side of the game. I don’t think anybody thinks I’m going to go out and crush guys, but I’ll play the body to the best of my ability – as much as a 5-foot-10 guy can."

Asked if he has been encouraged by Toronto’s coaching staff to get involved in the offence, Liles is cautious.

"You have to trust in your reads," he said. "There’s a reason why I’ve been in the league for seven seasons. It’s because I make good reads and I have to trust my ability to do that. If the opportunity presents itself, I think every defenceman on this team has the green light to go if you think it’s appropriate."

Liles laughs at the fact that one year ago he was in Colorado hoping to help the Avalanche in its rebuilding plan. Then he thinks back to joining the NHL in 2003-04 and wonders where the time has gone.

One thing is certain, however: he’s a different player today then the kid who scored 10 goals and 34 points in his first year.

"My defensive game has improved a lot," Liles said. "At the same time I think I play a lot smarter game. You come into the league and at first you want to make every play, you want to be a part of everything. It’s tough. You use so much energy when you do that. Now I think I play a lot smarter.

"I’m not 22 anymore and come the 56th minute of a game I might have to use some energy. You learn a lot of secrets about the game and you also learn how to take care of yourself off the ice in terms of nutrition."

If Liles can lend a hand in helping the Maple Leafs make the playoffs, he’ll never have to pay for a meal in this city again.

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy will cover the Toronto Maple Leafs for sportsnet.ca for the 2011/12 season.