Posted: Tuesday, April 5, 2011, 1:15 PM | 62 comments |
 

Leighton on re-entry waivers
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OTTAWA -- Michael Leighton could be back in Philadelphia soon.

How soon?

As early as Wednesday at noon. The Flyers put Leighton on re-entry waivers on Tuesday at noon, giving 29 other clubs a crack at him for half of his $1.55 million salary. The Flyers would be required to pay the other half. Leighton still has one year remaining on his deal that he signed last summer, after the Flyers bowed out of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Flyers would like to have Leighton available for the playoffs if need be, and re-calling him now - as opposed to when there is an injury - would make it easier to have him on the roster.

If the Flyers had an injury in the playoffs, teams - even those not even participating in the playoffs - would be more likely to place a claim to put the Flyers in a tough spot.

Leighton, 29, has helped carry the Phantoms out of last place in the AHL. He has posted a 14-12-2 record with a 2.22 goals against-average and .926 save percentage.

Leighton has 5 shutouts this season - including back-to-back shutouts in the last 2 games - which gives him 5 more shutouts than the Flyers’ entire team. Leighton even posted 3 shutouts in the postseason last year for the Flyers, where he also had a 8-3 record.

Even though any team can claim Leighton, they would not be able to use him in the playoffs this season since he was not on their 50-man roster by the Feb. 28 trade deadline.

SLAP SHOTS: The Flyers can clinch their first Atlantic division title tonight since 2004 with any kind of win and any Pittsburgh non-win ... Sergei Bobrovsky will start for the Flyers tonight against last place Ottawa. We made a case in today's paper for why Bobrovsky should be one of the three Calder Trophy finalists for Rookie of the Year ... Blair Betts, Danny Briere and Nick Boynton did not make the trip with the Flyers to Ottawa. That means Ben Holmstrom, Andreas Nodl and Danny Syvret will be in the lineup ... Jody Shelley is on the trip but has not been cleared yet to return from a fractured orbital surgery.

For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers

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Posted by Frank Seravalli @ 1:15 PM  Permalink | 62 comments
62
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:28 PM, 04/05/2011
    Nice to potentially have him available for the post-season but, if we get to the point of starting him, it may be too late anyway.
    — GreenOrangeRedBlueBlood
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:29 PM, 04/05/2011
    Why?
    — AEPi71
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:30 PM, 04/05/2011
    Exactly what I was thinking.. More because he will probably be claimed. This just doesn't make a ton of sense to me.
    — FlyersFTW
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:28 PM, 04/05/2011
    I think it's pretty simple if you take a look at their situation they've got a rookie goalie who's inconsistent and an over the hill back-up who's not as hungry as he was last year. Leighton will definitely be out to prove he can still get it done between the pipes. I've been wondering why they didn't do this earlier. I'm thinking they thought someone would claim him.
    — auspitz.paul
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:39 PM, 04/05/2011
    He's been hot for the Phantom's and if Bob doesn't work out in the playoffs, it might be a good move to go with Leights while he's playing well. If he clears... Also, if the Flyers continue to (P)funk out, throwing Leights in might give these guys a much needed spark. BTW, not a huge fan of any particular goalie, just the one who's plaing well and the guy who will ignite the teams play. Perhaps a fresh face might do the trick...if he clears... this ought to be interesting....C'mon Devils beat the queens and Let's Go Flyers!!!!
    — Chim Richalds
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:39 PM, 04/05/2011
    if he is claimed, it may be a blocking tactic by a rival....unless there's an injury to boosh he won't be playing any way.
    — otown philly fan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:40 PM, 04/05/2011
    Makes sense - If he's claimed it gives him another shot in the NHL, which is a classy thing for the Flyers to do. If he's not, I'd rather have him backing up Bob than Boucher.
    — mikegdj
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:45 PM, 04/05/2011
    Why? Maybe because neither of your current goalies look near good enough to win a playoff series??
    — ed_m
  • 1 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:51 PM, 04/05/2011
    i hope he doesn't get claimed. he's a great goalie that has been scapegoated by fans that know little about hockey or goaltending. i'd be happy to see if he can make a difference, and i'm happy to know that a lot of his critics are going to be blowing blood vessels just about now, whether or not he ever gets to play.
    — stonelamb
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:53 PM, 04/05/2011
    Career minor leaguer who's been passed over for years by all GMs in the NHL with one good season and he's great? And we're the ones who know anything about hockey or goaltending. The minors are full of guys with good numbers who just can't make it in the NHL, including Leighton.
    — SFPhillyphan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:03 PM, 04/05/2011
    Perspective is always a funny thing. People constantly say that Leighton was passed over for years...yet he has been claimed numerous times. Doesn't that mean that several GM's wanted him? "Passed over" to me, means being available for free by anyone, and no one wanting him. Like, technically, what happened to Bobrovsky all of his draft years. Then the years he was a free agent in Russia....I am just asking, what has Bobrovsky ever done, to show you that he is a quality NHL goaltender? His numbers are mediocre on a great team. I just don't understand the point of view that Bobrovsky is good, simply because he is young and unproven, while Leighton is not, simply because of "the goal."
    — Hexy4GM
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:52 PM, 04/05/2011
    Several GMs may have wanted him....temporarily. Nashville picked up Leaky off waivers, played him for exactly 20 minutes, then put him back on waivers. Carolina waived him twice. What did the other GMs who wanted Leaky do? Buffalo and Montreal declined to even offer him a contract.
    — FlyerFan4Life
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:58 PM, 04/05/2011
    beach ball.....enough said
    — flyersforlife
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:52 PM, 04/05/2011
    The two goalies looks worse than, say, Antii Niemi last season and what did he skate away with? I hope this move works out. I am surprised by it. But, I'm not a GM...Also, who cares about a shutout? Does it count form ore points than just a regular win? At the end of the day, you just want to win. Get Pronger back and that will solve myriad problems for this team.
    — NYluvsPhylers
  • Comment removed.


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About Frank Seravalli
Frank Seravalli is in his fourth year with the Daily News and third season covering the Flyers. He started at the Daily News as an intern writing about the boozing legends of the Lincoln Financial Field lots and hasn't left. Since joining the Flyers beat, he has covered everything from the Winter Classic to the Stanley Cup Final and everything in between. Prior to joining the Daily News, the Bucks County native did a large amount of freelance work for local media outlets, covering high schools, colleges and all four of Philly's major sports teams. He resides in Center City. E-mail Frank at seravaf@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter @DNFlyers.

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