Leighton signs 2-year deal
Daily News Flyers blog
Leighton signs 2-year deal
With a little less than 24 hours until he would have hit the open market, the Flyers locked up goaltender Michael Leighton to a two-year contract extension.
The deal was first reported by Rogers SportsNet in Canada.
Leighton, 29, will earn $1.5 million this season and $1.6 million next season. His cap hit will be split down the middle between both years at $1.55 million per season.
Either way, it’s a big hike from the $600,000 that Leighton earned last year between the Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes – and keeps him in Philadelphia.
“We are pleased to have Michael under contract for the next two seasons,” general manager Paul Holmgren said. “Michael came to our team in December last year and played extremely well for us in the regular season and the playoffs. Michael is an athletic goalie who we feel is just coming into his own as an NHL goaltender and we look forward to Michael building on the level of play he established this past season.”
"I'm very excited for the opportunity to come back to the Flyers organization for two more years,” said Leighton. “It was my intention all along. This is what I wanted. I really enjoy playing here, my teammates, the organization and the fans are so passionate. I just think it is a good fit for me.”
Leighton posted a 16-5-2 record and a 2.48 goals against average with the Flyers after being picked up from the Hurricanes in December.
At an average of $1.55 million, Leighton could still play the role of backup with the Flyers next season – perhaps pushing current backup Brian Boucher down to the AHL. Boucher has one more year left at $900,000.
The Flyers will still explore any starting goaltender queries when free agency opens tomorrow at noon. Evgeni Nabokov, Marty Turco, Chris Mason, Dan Ellis, Marty Biron and Antero Nittymaki are just a few of the unrestricted free agent goaltenders that could be available.
With approximately $9.1 million left in salary cap room, including both Leighton and Boucher, the Flyers still need to sign two forwards and two defensemen.
Here are the players under contract for next season:
FORWARDS
Danny Briere
Jeff Carter
Mike Richards
Simon Gagne
Scott Hartnell
James van Riemsdyk
Claude Giroux
Ian Laperriere
Ville Leino
Blair Betts
Riley Cote
DEFENSEMEN
Chris Pronger
Kimmo Timonen
Matt Carle
Oskars Bartulis
GOALTENDERS
Michael Leighton
Brian Boucher
Johan Backlund
Restricted free agents:
Dan Carcillo
Darroll Powe
Braydon Coburn
Unrestricted free agents:
Arron Asham
Lukas Krajicek
Danny Syvret
Mika Pyorala
Jared Ross
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DNFlyers.
Comments (55)
I agree with Phillyfan11 - the Flyers would not have made to the Cup Final if not for Leighton - it's no wonder goalies don't want to play here. Too many moron fans. A word of advice for the morons - It's great to win but winning isn't everything. Don't believe me, wait until you grow up and experience life.— mannoman- What choice due they have, they aren't going to get anyone in free agency. When will the players get locked out again because of all the worthless millionaires in this league?— eaglesman1
- Are fans still drinking the kool-aid on this guy? Mediocre at best. Terrible at worst. See the entire cup final and any game the team didn't play great D for details. Money would have been much better spent elsewhere. 1.5M for a potential backup? what about Backlund? ugh.— thrilladelf
- Flyers won't ever have a real #1 goalie. This team was lucky to get as far as they did. This year = total fluke. Chew on that— jibberjabber
- you folks that dont like this should have gone back to your normal sports by now. this guy saved the flyers season long before you started tuning in. he has shown he can perform at a top level. did he have a letdown in the finals? yeah, it wasnt his best showing. but, name me a 2 goalies he didn't outperform in the playoffs. worst case, he's a well paid back up that we know can step in an provide great goaltending.— beetle
- Flyers always went and got the best players they could, EXCEPT a star goalie. They won't win a Stanley Cup until they do. Flyers will never learn— Gold
- Where is all the chatter regarding the 2 young goalies in the Flyers system? Eriksson and Bobrovsky These kids could be ready in 2 years.— The Wanker
- I like the move. This guy can only get better.Does all the Flyer Faithful forget Hexy and his five-hole that cost us the Devils series many moons ago.That goal tore my heart out!!! Almost as bad as the winning goal allowed in game 6 did. Most Flyer fans still consider Hexy one of our greatest goaltenders. In todays NHL all you need is solid goaltending and the forwards and the defense have to thake care of business in front. We will be back and better than ever in Sept. LETS GO FLYERS!!!!— suknay
- Sounds completely fair. We would have never made the playoffs without him playing exactly the way he played so its nice to see him rewarded. Classy move.— BentLogic
- This is a smart move to set up the next three. Homer will sign Coburn, add either Volchenkov or Hamhuis, and sign Alex Tanguay to play with Giroux (you heard it here first). Leights is an athlete that is comin into his own. With another year under Reese and with the same D corps, he will be fine.— Fabulous
- He was gold up until that last shot in game 6, though, wasn't he?— LiLAlConroy
- Leighton actually let in more than a fluke goal. He was pulled twice in six games, and recorded one of the worst save%/GAA in SCF history.— stormrider
- Very solid move, very smart. Only one team can win the cup boys. If the Flyers had won game 6 and they could have a couple of times - who knows what would have happened in game 7. We might be talking about how great this run was, and that it actually was the greatest in NHL history. A fluke goal doesn't make it all garbage or this goalie. I love this team and always will. You can pretty much always count on the Flyers to be good and get to the playoffs. What is it 7 or 8 Stanley Cup Final appearances and two championships. That's pretty cool considering we were an expansion team. Yeah, I'd like to have a few more championships but that's life. My life hasn't been perfect, definitely some ups and downs but all in all it's been pretty good. And like this organization I won't give up either.— 1983ufgator
This team with this goalie came within a whisker of winning game six in the finals. That's not too bad, people. Leighton was a big part of it. Did he let in a soft goal at the end? Yes! Does that mean he can't do better the next time? Hell no!- You better sign Paul Martin at 12:01AM. This sieve is going to need all the help he can get. And will we really be hurting if Carcillo or Powe is gone to make cap space?— stormrider
Comment removed.- Why does everyone want Nabokov? Talk about a guy who gives up soft goals in the playoffs. At least Leighton could get to the Finals. This isn't that much money, given the lack of choices in the FA market for goalies. Nabokov isn't a playoff goalie, and Turco is old and hasn't shown himself to be a Cup type goalie either. Only other choice is to go young with one of the LA goalies in a trade. I'd rather get deeper on D with money available, so Pronger can get some rest.— cnova000
- Why does everyone want Nabokov? Talk about a guy who gives up soft goals in the playoffs. At least Leighton could get to the Finals. This isn't that much money, given the lack of choices in the FA market for goalies. Nabokov isn't a playoff goalie, and Turco is old and hasn't shown himself to be a Cup type goalie either. Only other choice is to go young with one of the LA goalies in a trade. I'd rather get deeper on D with money available, so Pronger can get some rest.— cnova000
- Brind'Amour retired. Should've traded Lindros 10 years ago.— DavidLeeRoth
- When are you people going to realize that in the "new" NHL it's speed and scoring that wins Cups. All of the so-called super goalies were home playing golf after the 1st and 2nd rounds.— rmpchf
- Please tell me he won't be the starter. Please!!!! This guy isn't good enough. Didn't we see that against Chicago? The Flyers will never learn that they need a top goalie.— Larry Brown
- considering he turned the Flyers season around last year why is this signing even being debated— petemagoop
- as stated before, if this brings them volchenkov and armstrong along with the ability to sign coburn then i like the move.— phillyfan14
I still remember ..... the last "soft" goal— shawnmac- 9 million under the cap? save that money. One reason they couldn't get kovalchuk was because they didn't have the cap space. by the trade deadline a player like him may be available and you will have the money under the cap to get him.— bill on the hill
- 9 million under the cap? save that money. One reason they couldn't get kovalchuk was because they didn't have the cap space. by the trade deadline a player like him may be available and you will have the money under the cap to get him.— bill on the hill
Good move. If he makes "that" save, he's a hero. Next year you can guarantee that he won't make that mistake again. It's called experience.... and he now has it. Watch and enjoy!!!- Resign Coburn. Sign UFA Meyer. He is a solid D. Then go sign Fedotenko (However it is spelled). He would make a solid 3rd line winger.— ChrisM
- Comment removed.
- Nabokov would have been the worst move the flyers could have made.— ChrisM
- Good move at a good price. Leighton is young, experienced, inexpensive and played extremely well during extended runs in the regular season (when the team in front of him was a carousel of injuries) and the Playoffs up until the Finals. Yes, he struggled in the Finals (against an excellent Hawks team), but with an improved defense and a fresher Chris Pronger we can get over the hump with Leighton. I'm starting to believe we should keep Carter - he has his flaws, but we shouldn't throw away a 30-40 goal-scorer. Now let's address the 5th defensive spot and we're a GO!— 88etrain
- Good move at a good price. Leighton is young, experienced, inexpensive and played extremely well during extended runs in the regular season (when the team in front of him was a carousel of injuries) and the Playoffs up until the Finals. Yes, he struggled in the Finals (against an excellent Hawks team), but with an improved defense and a fresher Chris Pronger we can get over the hump with Leighton. I'm starting to believe we should keep Carter - he has his flaws, but we shouldn't throw away a 30-40 goal-scorer. Now let's address the 5th defensive spot and we're a GO!— 88etrain
- Comment removed.
- not great, not terrible... Leighton could be a "late bloomer"... I agree w/ Marcus, if the remaining $ is used to shore up the rest of the roster, could be a really good move.— erbower
Sitcom Sam wrote; "Leighton sucks and this FO is horrible. They will never win until they learn that the goalie is the most important player on the team. I hate them!!!" What goalie would you want to see the Flyers get? Leighton's Stanley Cup Playoffs statistics were the following;*****2nd in Save % at .916, (just behind Halak at .923)*******First in GAA at 2.46/gm******First in shutouts (3).— snad264- Signing a goalie for $1.5 million with a regular season 2.83 GAA, .905 Save %, SC Playoffs 2.46 GAA and .916 Save % - including three (3) shutouts - is fantastic! The fact that Laviolette has a lot of confidence in Leighton is enough reason to feel good about this signing.— snad264
- This bad...shows that Holmgren does have what it take to land a real top notch player..he lost out on Hamhuis, and Nabokov. And really Boucher as the back up, please. So it becomes apparent that last year getting within to win of the Stanley cup is as good as it will get. UGH— thebaron
- it's very possible they can still trade for a #1 goalie like the guy from LA or the guy from Vancouver (not louongo) and send boucher or leighton packing in the deal. But if that falls through, we still have plenty of cap room to sure up our defense and get a winger. We made it to the finals last year with boucher adn leighton. Why not again? And our goaltending wasn't exactly where we were lacking. Everyone keeps saying "lets in soft goals". Well, what about some of the incredible saves both leighton and boucher made? Granted, we played sound defense but we should have a better D core this year than last.— daoust555
- EXCELLENT move! Thank you Homer! We've spent virtually nothing on Leighton, and the guy was basically was our MVP of the regular season and played solid in the playoffs overall. We now have cash to get Hamhuis, and i bet we do if for no other reason than to stick it to the Pens. Essentially Ryan Parent to a Western conference team for a 3rd round pick from the Pens is way better for us than what we deserved for a 7th d-man. I'm liking the way this is shaping up! Now sign at least Car Bomb and Coby, and get one more solid D man and a decent forward and all is good in Flyer land.
- Marcus Hooke - thanks for saying what I was thinking while reading these comments. WHO WANTS a goalie who does not want to be here? There's some solid FA's up next season: Chara (imagine Chara and Pronger?), Semin, Vokun, Ilya Bryzgalov (I am big on him). Just need a solid D man, legit #3 or 4 D-man. I'd trade Carter for Bobby Ryan - so we can get a scoring wing for a center, of which we have an abundance!— NYFlyersFan
- Looking forward to game 7 and..........................oh wait. Never mind.— jibberjabber
good move. good price.— Inchon- with 9 million, we can get a RW for Richards, and able bodied 5th dman, Coburn, and resign our RFA. As long as we shore up the 3rd D pairing, I'm fine with Leighton for a full season to see what he can improve on. Yes he was soft in the Stanley Cup finals, but we don't get to the Finals unless he's back there.— bsgratch
- Why is this bad? Because a goal slipped under his pad in game 6? Sure id rather have nabokov but hes the best option if nabby isnt avaible.— xMikelaw19
- This move is conditional on what happens next. I disagree that Nabakov or Turco will sign similar contracts. Therefore, if Homer uses the cap space he saved on Leighton to sign either Volchenkov or Hamhuis.....as well as another strong RW, I think it's a fantastic move.— Marcus Hooke
- 3.9 for a backup goalie? One step forward two steps back!— jimmythec
- good move. just hope we get the leighton than shut out the canadiens three times, not the one that kinda sucked in the cup.
- After watching the horrible Niemi hoist the Cup, I am more concerned that the Flyers are once again looking at guys like *puke in my mouth and re-swallo* Rafi Torries or Colby Armstrong instead of going after a TOP CUP WINNING FORWARD to play with Richards like Guerin. I mean how can Holmgrem sleep at night knowing he started the season with Pylora on the top line with your Captain? Then Carcillo, Gags, Giroux, Asham...when Knuble would have looked just fine. Or Madden, but he was too busy helping Chi-Town win the cup.— MichaelZoe
- I love it! You people are morons if you don't think Leighton is a better move over washed-up Turco and Nabokov. Besides, 99% of goalies don't wanna play in Philadelphia. It's the hardest goaltending job in the NHL. Thanks, fans.— phillyphan11
- I see three possibilities here: Either this means Nobokov is not likely to come here; Having Leighton signed makes it easier to trade him; or they really want him back. I really don't mind Leighton as a backup. I'm still hoping they sign Nabokov as the No. 1.— echosmyron
- Leighton sucks and this FO is horrible. They will never win until they learn that the goalie is the most important player on the team. I hate them!!!— Sitcom Sam
- Penaquote must be Leighton's agent. Once free agency started, they would have been able to get one of the goalies mentioned for not much more than what they gave Leighton.— hey buddy
- I just threw up in my mouth...— CROSSI
- Who would you rather have? ...actually who would you rather have that we have a REALISTIC chance to sign?— PenAquote
- Comment removed.
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