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Liles' agent hopes for deal with Avs

Defenseman can become unrestricted free agent July 1

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 24, 2008 at 8:14 p.m.

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John-Michael Liles of the Avalanche takes a shot.

Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

John-Michael Liles of the Avalanche takes a shot.

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There are no guarantees, but the agent for John-Michael Liles is hopeful he can reach a contract agreement with the Avalanche before the defenseman enters the open market next week.

Liles, 27, is one of eight unsigned players to finish the 2007-08 season with the Avalanche who are eligible for unrestricted free agency beginning July 1.

A young, mobile defenseman such as Liles, who made $1.4 million last season, would be certain to draw plenty of interest from other NHL teams.

Agent Joe Resnick said Tuesday he has had some "preliminary discussions" with Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere regarding Liles, who had his worst offensive showing in his four years with the team but still finished as the club's top-scoring defenseman with 32 points (six goals, 26 assists) in 81 games.

Liles added two goals and three assists in 10 playoff games.

"We're waiting to hear back from them," Resnick said. "I think J-M is a pretty special player and I hope we could reach a deal. But it's not up to me. It's up to the Avalanche. Our talks have been cordial - I'd say positive. We'd like to get a deal done."

Resnick also represents forward Wojtek Wolski, who is eligible for restricted free agency. The Avalanche was expected to tender Wolski, 22, a qualifying offer by today's league deadline to retain his signing rights.

"I'm assuming they will (tender an offer)," Resnick said.

Wolski fell out of favor at times with former coach Joel Quenneville and finished his second full NHL season with 18 goals and 30 assists in 77 games.

Wolski, who had two goals and eight assists in seven playoff games, suffered three broken ribs in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals against Detroit and missed the rest of the series.

Ben Hankinson, who represents defenseman Kurt Sauer, said he hasn't had any contact with the Avalanche since "one brief conversation a few weeks ago."

Sauer, 27, had one goal, five assists and a plus-17 rating in 54 games; he missed 28 games because of a neck injury. Sauer and defenseman Adam Foote, whom the Avalanche is expected to re-sign, helped limit Minnesota star Marian Gaborik to one assist in six games in the first round of the playoffs.

"I was hoping there would be a little more communication up until now," Hankinson said. "But they've got some other players that they need to identify as well."

Agent Rich Evans was awaiting a qualifying offer for restricted free-agent forward Marek Svatos, who had 26 goals despite missing the final 16 games because of a knee injury.

Svatos is getting married this week in Croatia, a wedding that will be attended by Avalanche captain Joe Sakic, who still hasn't decided whether to return for a 20th NHL season.

Sakic and Peter Forsberg, who has been consulting with doctors about his troublesome foot, won't make decisions concerning their futures by July 1.

Jose Theodore, Andrew Brunette and Jeff Finger are three other potential free agents.

The Avalanche has had contact with agents for Theodore and Finger, but Brunette and his agent, Don Reynolds, said Tuesday they haven't heard from the team since the season ended.

Comments

  • June 25, 2008

    1:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mareksvatos writes:

    This is infuriating... we haven't locked up any significant players with less than 1 week until free agency. Other teams like Nashville, Boston, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Phoenix, Montreal, Los Angeles, and Calgary have been agressively making moves and signing players. what have we done? Parker! Ohhhhhhhhh. We probably have the most question marks next to Toronto, yet we sit idly by. Haven't even let Bruno know that we'll eventually cut him free. Where's the class? I thought this was a championship organization?

  • June 25, 2008

    4:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ZC14 writes:

    Very disapointing move by Sakic

  • June 25, 2008

    9:41 p.m.

    SciotoSlim writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • June 27, 2008

    7:22 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    GJrodburner writes:

    I don't know what Joe owes to this team ZC14, and yes, it would be nice to have an answer at hand, but Joe Sakic has earned the right to stall, delay, or not talk at all. When I see what JS is doing, I think he is trying his best to see the lay of the money-scape in regards to whom the Aves deal, keep, sign, and draft. JS, if he has a financial planner that has assisted him with his money over his career, is set. All that matters at this point in his playing-career is another championship. I'm guessing, but I don't think Joe feels that the front office really knows what they are doing. By not communicating with FG, he is forcing the Aves to show what it is they plan on doing before the preseason even begins...play low and keep the kids playing or go high and keep the experience they picked up at the deadline and go for another Cup.