TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't wait for Friday night's NHL draft to pull the trigger on a new roster addition.
The Leafs acquired defenceman John-Michael Liles just hours before the entry draft from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a second-round pick in the next year's draft.
The pick was previously acquired by Toronto from the Boston Bruins as part of the Tomas Kaberle trade last February.
The five-foot-10, 185-pound Liles is set to make US$4.55 million this season and could become a unrestricted free agent next summer.
He's coming off a strong season where he registered six goals and a career-high 40 assists in 76 games.
The Indianapolis native, who has played his entire seven-year career in Colorado, led all Avalanche defencemen in scoring the past five seasons.
Liles has also played 36 playoff games in that span, notching four goals, seven assists for 11 points.
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