Michael Leighton: Difference between revisions

{{other people}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=December 2017}}

{{Infobox ice hockey player

 

==Playing career==

 

 

Leighton played two seasons in the [[American Hockey League]] (AHL) for the [[Norfolk Admirals (AHL)|Norfolk Admirals]] before making his NHL debut on January 8, 2003. He became the first Blackhawks player to record a [[shutout]] in his debut during a scoreless [[tie (draw)|tie]] against the [[Phoenix Coyotes]]' [[Zac Bierk]]. Bierk also earned his first career shutout, although it was not his NHL debut. It was the first time that two goaltenders in the same game both earned their first career shutouts.<ref>Hockey’s Book of Firsts, p.19, James Duplacey, JG Press, {{ISBN|978-1-57215-037-9}}</ref> Leighton would compete with [[Craig Anderson (ice hockey)|Craig Anderson]] for backup duties with Chicago, having never spent a complete season in the NHL with the team.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

 

Leighton would continue to play in the Blackhawks' organization until October 4, 2005, when he was traded to the [[Buffalo Sabres]] in exchange for [[Milan Bartovič]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=475900 | title = Hawks Trade Leighton; Acquire Bartovic | publisher = Chicago Blackhawks | date = 2005-10-04 | accessdate = 2010-05-23}}</ref> He did not appear in a game with the Sabres, as he spent [[2005–06 AHL season|the season]] with their AHL affiliate, the [[Rochester Americans]]. Buffalo did not tender him a qualifying offer in the off-season and he became an unrestricted free agent.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=437169 | title = Qualifying Offers Extended | publisher = Buffalo Sabres | date = 2006-06-27 | accessdate = 2010-05-23}}</ref> On July 13, 2006, Leighton signed as a free agent with the [[Anaheim Ducks]],<ref>{{cite news | url = http://ducks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=468758 | title = Ducks Sign Goaltender Michael Leighton | publisher = Anaheim Ducks | date = 2006-07-13 | accessdate = 2010-05-23}}</ref> and the organization assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the [[Portland Pirates]], following training camp. When both [[Ilya Bryzgalov]] and [[Jean-Sébastien Giguère]] were injured, the Ducks recalled him on November 27 to start. However, he was claimed off waivers by the [[Nashville Predators]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=439024 | title = Preds acquire Leighton on waivers | publisher = Nashville Predators | date = 2006-11-27 | accessdate = 2010-05-23}}</ref> After appearing in just 20 minutes of one game with the Predators, Leighton was again placed on waivers,<ref>{{cite news | url = http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=439063 | title = Predators place Leighton on waivers | publisher = Nashville Predators | date = 2007-01-10 | accessdate = 2010-05-23}}</ref> and this time was claimed by the [[Philadelphia Flyers]] on January 11, 2007.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=435613 | title = Flyers Claim Goaltender Michael Leighton from Nashville | publisher = Philadelphia Flyers | date = 2007-01-11 | accessdate = 2010-05-23}}</ref>

 

In the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals against the Montreal Canadiens, Leighton allowed only seven goals in five games, posting three shutouts as the seventh-seeded Flyers advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals against his former team, the [[Chicago Blackhawks]]. Leighton started all six games of the Final series, though Boucher finished Game 1, a 6–5 Blackhawks win, and Game 5, a 7–4 Blackhawks win. Boucher was the losing goaltender of record in both games. Leighton struggled in the finals, posting a goals against average of 3.96 and a save percentage of 0.876 as Chicago defeated Philadelphia four games to two, ending with an overtime goal by [[Patrick Kane]].{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

 

 

On January 3, 2011, the three-way goaltender competition was resolved after Flyers general manager [[Paul Holmgren]] reported Leighton was placed on waivers.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=548259 | title = Flyers Waive Leighton | author = Joe Siville | publisher = philadelphiaflyers.com | date = 2011-01-03 | accessdate = 2011-01-05}}</ref> Leighton cleared waivers the next day and was assigned to the [[Adirondack Phantoms]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.csnphilly.com/01/04/11/Leighton-clears-waivers-heads-to-the-Pha/landing_flyers.html?blockID=384758&feedID=704 | title = Leighton clears waivers, heads to the Phantoms | author = Tim Panaccio | publisher = CSNPhilly.com | date = 2011-01-04 | accessdate = 2011-01-05 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://archive.today/20130120062204/http://www.csnphilly.com/01/04/11/Leighton-clears-waivers-heads-to-the-Pha/landing_flyers.html?blockID=384758&feedID=704 | archivedate = 2013-01-20 }}</ref> Three months later he was placed on re-entry waivers<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.csnphilly.com/04/05/11/Flyers-recall-Leighton-Bobrovsky-is-play/landing_flyers.html?blockID=497792&feedID=704 | title = Flyers recall Leighton; Bobrovsky is playoff starter | author = Tim Panaccio and Sarah Baicker | publisher = CSNPhilly.com | date = 2011-04-05 | accessdate = 2011-04-06 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://archive.today/20120914110910/http://www.csnphilly.com/04/05/11/Flyers-recall-Leighton-Bobrovsky-is-play/landing_flyers.html?blockID=497792&feedID=704 | archivedate = 2012-09-14 }}</ref> and after clearing, re-joined the Flyers.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.csnphilly.com/04/06/11/Leighton-clears-waivers-will-join-Flyers/landing.html?blockID=498495&feedID=704 | title = Leighton clears waivers, will join Flyers Thursday | author = Tim Panaccio | publisher = CSNPhilly.com | date = 2011-04-06 | accessdate = 2011-04-06 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://archive.today/20120728000514/http://www.csnphilly.com/04/06/11/Leighton-clears-waivers-will-join-Flyers/landing.html?blockID=498495&feedID=704 | archivedate = 2012-07-28 }}</ref> Leighton played in two playoff games.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

After spending the entire [[2011–12 AHL season|2011–12 season]] with the Phantoms, Leighton re-signed with the Flyers with a one-year contract on July 1, 2012, and was slotted to serve as [[Ilya Bryzgalov]]'s back-up.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=636750 | title = Flyers re-sign (G) Michael Leighton | publisher = philadelphiaflyers.com | date = 2012-07-01 | accessdate = 2012-07-02}}</ref> After playing in just one game for the Flyers during the [[2011–12 NHL season|2011–12 season]], Leighton was traded at the [[NHL trade deadline]] to the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] (along with a third-round pick in the [[2015 NHL Entry Draft]]) in exchange for [[Steve Mason (ice hockey)|Steve Mason]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Flyers acquire Steve Mason from Columbus; Adam Hall from Tampa Bay|url=http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=664045|publisher=[[Philadelphia Flyers]]|date=April 3, 2013|accessdate=April 13, 2013}}</ref> Leighton served as Sergei Bobrovsky's backup for the remainder of the season, but did not see any ice-time. An unrestricted free agent the following the season, on August 19, 2013, Leighton signed a one-year contract with [[HC Donbass]] of the [[Kontinental Hockey League]] (KHL).{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

 

 

On August 18, 2014, Leighton signed a one-year, two-way contract with the team he began his NHL career with, the Chicago Blackhawks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=728522|title=Blackhawks agree to terms with goaltender Michael Leighton|date=2014-08-18}}</ref> During the Blackhawks' training camp, Leighton was assigned (along with centre [[Peter Regin]]) to Chicago's AHL affiliate, the [[Rockford IceHogs]], after clearing waivers.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/chi-assign-regin-leighton-to-rockford-20141005-story.html|title = Blackhawks assign Regin, Leighton to Rockford|last = Kuc|first = Chris|date = October 5, 2014|work = Chicago Tribune|accessdate = October 5, 2014}}</ref> The Blackhawks recalled Leighton from the IceHogs following an injury to starting goaltender [[Corey Crawford]]. He primarily served as back-up to [[Scott Darling]]. Leighton made only one relief appearance for the Blackhawks on March 22, 2016, allowing one goal and stopping 17 shots against the [[Dallas Stars]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hine |first=Chris |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/ct-blackhawks-recall-goalie-michael-leighton-20160317-story.html |title=With Corey Crawford day-to-day, Blackhawks call up Michael Leighton |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=2016-03-17 |accessdate=2016-10-27 }}</ref> Leighton remained with the Blackhawks after Crawford returned for the [[2016 Stanley Cup playoffs]], but was a healthy scratch for all seven of the team's playoff games.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lazerus |first=Mark |url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/michael-leighton-split-on-staying-in-rockford-or-being-black-ace/ |title=Michael Leighton torn on staying in Rockford or being Black Ace |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=2016-03-18 |accessdate=2016-10-27 }}</ref>

==External links==

{{Commons category|Michael Leighton}}

*[http://www.hockeygoalies.org/bio/leighton.html Michael Leighton's profile at Hockey Goalies]

 

[[Category:Canadian ice hockey goaltenders]]

[[Category:Carolina Hurricanes players]]

[[Category:Charlotte Checkers (2010–) players]]

[[Category:Chicago Blackhawks draft picks]]

[[Category:Windsor Spitfires players]]

[[Category:Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins players]]