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Gillette, WY • United States • 29 Years Old • Male

What to do with JML

Posted 12:04 AM ET | Comments 4
John Michael Liles is a player who has shown the ability to consistently achieve 40 point seasons. That is nothing to snuff at by any means. Sacco thinks he can do better, and so do I. We as fans all kind of have this collective feeling that he is worth more than he is putting out.

I do however feel that he has a somewhat fragile ego. We could look back at his performance record and see that like clockwork when there is a trade rumor concerning him, his play goes down the pipes. When the pressure is not there he plays incredibly well.

Which brings me to the next point, if he is fragile how will he handle being benched? Hopefully he will use it as motivation but if he is a head case in regards to his playing time, expect it to be a long season for him.

Noting his play as of late can draw about two conclusions. First there have been winds of trade that are making it to his ears. Second he could easily still be nursing a hurt shoulder. Both scenarios are viable.

I personally believe that he is capable of 60 points a season and Sacco's comments in the Post indicate the same. The problem is that he won't ever show off in front of scouts. If that is the case then we can expect him to be an enigma playing on his own terms for the length of his contract.

Here is where I will give Sacco credit. He is going to make his life miserable if he won't play up to his potential. He has the ability, he just needs the heart. If he really wants to stay n Denver this bad, he needs to play like it. If he is too valuable to trade because of the services heffrs the team, more power to him.

Essentially because of an inflated contract, with two years remaining he isuntradable. He has shown glimmers of hope, but the sad reality is that he is doing his best to make it harhard to trade him.

Buck up Liles, you aren't the first guy to try and avoid a trade and you won't be the last.
Filed Under:   Avalanche   Aaron Musick   Colorado  
December 31, 2009 1:03 AM ET | Delete
LETS ALL KILL MJL
December 31, 2009 3:36 PM ET | Delete
He needs to play stronger on the puck, that's my biggest knock on him.
December 31, 2009 4:25 PM ET | Delete
He isn't driving to corners, and he is going to get nailed for some elbowing penalties the way he tries to lift up with his arms as of late.It just frustrates me that a guy this talented, doesn't do his best every night. He really could be one of the best offensive defensemen in the league.
January 1, 2010 9:10 PM ET | Delete
I think he's got some "muscle memory" tentativeness from injuring both shoulders earlier this year. He's actually one of my favorite players from a p.r. perspective and it is frustrating seeing that he has fallen out of favor with the fandom.
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