Leighton is back
Daily News Flyers blog
Leighton is back
With the market for a backup goaltender dwindling, the Flyers brought back one of their own.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren mentioned Michael Leighton's name at the NHL draft, and few thought he was serious. Leighton, of course, was just coming off a 2-year, $3.1 million deal in which he played just one regular season game with the Flyers.
Now, Leighton will be Ilya Bryzgalov's backup next season. The deal, as first reported by Rogers Sportsnet’s Josh Rimer, is worth $900,000 for one year.
"I'm very happy to be back in Philly," Leighton said in a statement. "This is where I want to be and I'm excited about the team we have this year. I look forward to the opportunity to continue working with Jeff Reese."
Leighton, 31, was an AHL All-Star last season with the Phantoms. He was not even listed among the Top 6 available goaltenders by TSN on their Free Agent Frenzy show.
Since being re-acquired by the Flyers off waivers on Dec. 15, 2009, Leighton went unbeaten in regulation in his first 10 starts (Dec. 23 - Jan. 12), going 8-0-1 with a 2.16 GAA and .928 save percentage. He is 19-7-2 overall during the regular season with the Flyers.
Other backups had signed deals in recent days, including Marty Biron (Rangers) and Scott Clemmensen (Panthers), leaving only a few players on the market, like Chris Mason (Jets) and Johan Hedberg (Devils).
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Comments (32)
Really? He's what cost us a cup. You're just another one of the idiots in here who can't evaluate a player on anything but his worst moment. You're like some whiny little chick who has to dredge up the worst possible image of someone every time that you talk about them. The guy is a solid goalie and a good locker room guy. Get over yourself and learn to watch more than a 15 second video clip before you judge someone's talent level.
I like the idea.....No Problems here, everyone knows there role....— shmoo- This is a solid move for the Flyers right now. Leighton came out of nowhere and played well enough for the Flyers to get within 2 games of the Cup. He had some breakdowns under pressure but he also saved a lot of games because of isolated laced defense. And he can put up shut outs when he is in the zone. Don't be surprised if he does the impossible and provides a safety net for Bryz if and when he gets hurt. Go Flers!— SocialReject
- STIFF!!!!!!!— lanzascat
- STOP HAMMERING LEIGHTON!!I have never seen a guy get taken off waivers, and get hammered for getting a team to the finals! THE FINALS! BOOSH Was brutal! I really think his skills are gone. He's a great guy, but mikes a better goalie.BOB on the other hand was a disaster. Drop, butterfly, GOAOOOOAAAALLLL. He went undrafted for a reason. Leits will be our #1 by Thanksgiving!! (HTML deleted)— Boston Flyer
- Smart move. Leighton is a solid backup, and Bryz is the obvious #1. No controversy; no drama, no debate.— fentonhardy
- "Leaky", is back?
Chaput for Sestito?
Not drafting Maatta?
"Homer", is starting to wear out
his welcome in my book.— olneyboy 
The usual Flyers goalie comedy show continues for the 30th year. Not funny.— shawnmac- It really doesnt matter who our backup is...our problem is our 1st string goalie...he is a backup at best....Nash..Parise..Suter etc..none of them can fix the fact we have one of the worst #1 goalies in the league.....— flyers1000
- Good signing IMO. Can fiil the roll he is suited for as a backup. Hope this will freeup a little $$ for pursuit of Pareise or a good D Man— Jiminfl
- terpaholic:::I completely agree....The Flyers and most of the people on the local blogs (fans and media) live in a dream world. Haven't won for almost 4 decades.....and most of that time there was NO SALARY CAP and Snider and Clarke spent money like morons....they don't get it....and this BRYZ guy and his 9 yr $51M contract last year....what a JOKE!!!!!— bbrady25
- ive been waiting to hear what Hexy4gm thought os this signing,i'm ok with it ,i mean its just a back up,we are screwed with bryz any way,I know homer and the management team have made some shrewd moves,but who was out there offering bryz 6,7,or 8 year deals,and we said ahh bryz we will give u a 9 year deal, Now to the good point of eagle1971 made,who the hell was out there offering leighton more than the league minimum,or even a one way contract.gotta look after that salary cap better guys— FLYER NORTH
- Anybody is better than Rasputin!— quigly46
I think Ron Hextall is still unsigned......- LOL....typical Flyers move...37 years and counting...will never happen with this regime— terpaholic
- Leaky? Just a stunningly stupid move. A 31-year-old minor league goalie who many think cost us a Cup. And they pay him more than the league minimum! A guy no other team would touch.— eagle1971
- Not only would no other GM touch Leaky, they wouldn't take him at half his salary. As for younowho saying Leaky " stopped the shots he was suppose to"...I guess he didn't see Leaky in his last appearance in a Flyer uniform. Rob Niedermayer scored on the Sabres' first shot, then Leaky let in two more first period softees before being pulled for the 3rd time in his last seven playoff starts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdyeGehRudQ
- i usually dont reply to all you "know it alls". but for Leighton (as you say.... leaky), back. Boucher????? really? LOL for all the goalies the flyers have had, he was steady, stopped the shots he was suppose to for a season. YES, he wasnt the same at in the finals, but either was detroits goalie. but he got us there, and sometimes you wait for the anything can happen series.... which i cant say that for the past flyers goalies for the last bunch of years. — younowho
- Hey FlyerFan4Life and PhillyBoyinNYC: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!— snipesmorris
- Snipes + Hexy4GM + Leaky = ♥♥♥XOXOXO♥♥♥
Leaky at his best:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdyeGehRudQ - Great. Now they'll have the two worst goalies in the league. Like rotten peas & carrots.— Jerome99RIP
- I get tired of hearing statements as completely incorrect as this from people who pretend to be fans but truly don't know their arse from a hole in the ground... Jerome, you really need to just pound a heaping helping of shut the hell up. You're a moron. I'm used to the general whining about players in here. But you should just end it now. It's what's best for everyone...
- So Leighton gets 10-12 starts while Brygalov starts 70 games. The Flyers better be combing the backwoods of Russia and Sweden to find the next Sergei Bobrovsky in case Bryz goes down, lest 43 year-old Dwayne Roloson gets signed to an emergency contract. Or Marty Turco. Good grief!— schultz08
- I'm I'm I'm....Typeless— rbecker1963
- LOL. the second I heard this I couldn't wait to get here and see all the madness unfold! Personally, Stanley Cup Finals aside, I actually think Leighton is a solid goalie and a competent back up. I know i'm gonna get blasted for that, he's had decent stats in his career, and despite being the goalie for that heartbreaking loss, had a real good year for us in 09-10. 16-5 with a shutout 2.48 sv% and .920 is a pretty good line. Not to mention AHL All Star last year (Albeit at 30 YO) Assuming Bryz has a better year (and im not convinced that'll happen) and stays healthy, I don't think Leighton is a terrible signing for a backup.— Neebo
- He's an experienced backup and will be better suited in that roll than Bob was. I like it. Though I'd rather have Boosh back here for that roll.— vvvmetallicavvv
- Boucher is out 4-6 months — hey buddy
- Great lockeroom guy, everyoone loves Leights, he was hurt last year, he will be good. Your backup has to be a guy that the boys can talk and joke around with and keep things loose. Thats Leights.BTW, Bryz will probably play over 65 games next year.— Fabulous
- Whachu talkin' bout Homer?
- It is great to see Mike back in the NHL.— Nosredna
- OMG!! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!! You have to be kidding me? Leaky? that's the best they can do for a backup. Unreal— kchaz
- If this is a move to save as much money for a deal that hasn't been completed, then I'm for it.— cjh136
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Frequent Flyers is your home for news and analysis of all things orange and black.
Reach Frank at seravaf@phillynews.com.
Frank Seravalli
Daily News Sports Columnist
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