The newest $15 million dollar man: John-Micheal Liles

Bernard Weil, Toronto Star

Today, John-Micheal Liles was handed a 4 year $15.5 million dollar contract (per TSN.ca). This comes just after the news that he is primed to return from a concussion he received December 22nd vs. Buffalo; a scary thought. While Liles has filled in admirably for long time Leaf Tomas Kaberle since his arrival, this comes as somewhat of a surprise.

Many Leaf fans thought that Liles would receive a pat on the butt as a sign of thanks at the end of the season while heading out the door, thus making room for a couple of young defenders that seem primed to take over for him, Jake Gardiner and Cody Franson. It would seem that this move to re-sign the 31 year old makes one of Gardiner and Franson expendable, and for a Leafs defense that has struggled much of the season, this is worrying.

Potential defensive call-ups

As we are all well aware, the Maple Leafs aren't exactly defensive juggernauts. Defensively the Leafs are 17th in GA at 5 v. 5, this is probably where most expected this team to be, in the middle of the pack. However, as we start looking at the Maple Leafs defense while shorthanded, the sad joy we have, at being in the middle of the pack, crumbles away. The Leafs are ranked 20th in times shorthanded, this wouldn't be the end of the world (read: playoffs) if they weren't ranked 30th in power-play goals allowed. So as you may be able to tell, the Leafs are in desperate need of a hockey player that can kill a penalty, or just play defense. Let`s take a look at what Marlies players could help out the roster.