"For all of the platitudes heaped on Tomas Kaberle for being that coveted and elusive "puck-moving defenceman" that every team must have, the Maple Leafs still managed to have a dreadful power-play while he was in blue and white.

Before the 2011 NHL entry draft got humming here Friday night, Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke managed to get what he hopes will be an upgrade on the player he helped get a Stanley Cup ring with the Boston Bruins.

In acquiring defenceman John-Michael Liles from the Colorado Avalanche for the relatively bargain-basement price of a 2012 second-round pick, the Leafs can at least hope there will finally be some "special" back in their special teams.

"Liles is basically going to take the place of Tomas Kaberle," Leafs vice-president of hockey operations, Dave Nonis, said moments after the team announced the deal.

"He's a power-play guy, a position we've definitely been lacking since Kaberle was gone. He's going to step right in and will be given a lot of responsibility and opportunity."

To say the power-play has been lacking is certainly an understatement. Lousy would be a more apt description.

Two seasons ago the Leafs power-play was last in the league at 30th after hitting at a woeful 14%. Moving up two points to 16% this past season got them up to 22nd in the league, but there is little dispute the unit remained a liability for a team that was offensively challenged on too many nights.

But already this off-season the Leafs are taking measures to improve the operation. Not that they should be made the lone scapegoats, but the dismissal of assistant coaches Tim Hunter and Keith Acton might have been seen as the first step."