Leighton clears waivers, returns to Flyers
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Leighton clears waivers, returns to Flyers
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Goalie Michael Leighton cleared re-entry waivers at noon on Wednesday and is back with the Flyers.
Leighton, 29, who helped spark the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals last year, could have been claimed by another team for half his $1.6 million salary for next season.
Leighton has spent most of the season at Adirondack after recovering from October back surgery. He was 14-12-3 with a 2.22 goals-against average and .926 save percentage this season with the Phantoms.
“He gives us more depth…with experience,” coach Peter Laviolette said.
Leighton will not join the team until Thursday's practice.
After Wednesday's practice, Laviolette said Sergei Bobrovsky would start Friday's game in Buffalo. The rookie will be the No. 1 goalie in the playoffs, and Laviolette made it a point to say that Brian Boucher will be his primary backup.
"They've been great," Laviolette said.
Leighton was just happy to be back in the NHL.
"This is what I wanted," he said. "I wanted to be back here in time for the playoffs."
Leighton had three shutouts against Montreal in last year's Eastern Conference finals, then struggled in the Stanley Cup Finals against Chicago. He was pulled in Games 1 and 5 against the Blackhawks.
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Danny Briere returned to practice Wednesday and hopes to play Friday in Buffalo. Briere has missed the last two games with a groin injury. Blair Betts (knee) was not at practice. Defenseman Nick Boynton practiced with a yellow (no contact) jersey. Boynton has been bothered by back and shoulder issues......Center Ben Holmstrom was sent back to Adirondack.
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I bet Hexy4GM is dancing in the streets right about now.- Holmgren is desperate to vindicate his boondoggle of signing this guy to a bloated two-year contract last summer. The other 29 GMs have spoken loud and clear: twice now in four months they've repudiated Holmgren's decision.— eagle1971
- Leighton played admirably last season and through the playoffs. I've never heard anyone get on Kimmo for his lapse that led to the last goal. Bobs is too green & inconsistent and Bouch has not been able to shut the door when necessary. Maybe the team will rally around Michael....They sure as h*ll need something to rally around.— michaelthegreat
- Admirably? Did you happen to see the finals. LOL. — eagle1971
Comment removed.- Boucher played well until he got injured...that explains a lot of your opinions on goaltending. You realize he was 1-3, and allowed 16 goals against that Boston team with "no offence" before he got hurt. By the way, Leighton polished that series off by letting in a total of 4 goals.
4 goals is exactly how many Bobrovsky allowed to the 29th ranked offence in the NHL, in his last game.— Hexy4GM - It wasn't "Kimmo's lapse" that led to that last goal, it was Leaky letting in a super softee than any junior hockey kid could have stopped: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZcO5IVFffs
And what's your excuse for Leaky letting in these two goals in 28 seconds? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmBdaYtPNCo
And your excuse for 3 goals on eleven shots, including this softee by Versteeg? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83itZmpVma0&feature=relmfu - the end line is the goaltending is not an issue on this team. this move was strictly done as depth in the event there is an injury to Boucher or Bob in the playoffs. if we tried to re-call leighton during the playoffs a team may just claim him to block us, right now there is no reason to attempt to do that.
the goaltending is not the issue with this team. i mean i would like for you to name one goalie who is going to stop jason spezza's shot from right inside the hashmarks when he is wind open. don't blame bob, he has played perfectly fine, the issues are far deeper than blaming the goalie— jsavino - Comment removed.
- You make a good point, although he didn't look bad in the one game he played out here last December 30th.
Do you think he will dress as backup in any games?
- barring any injury or catastrophic collapse of Bobrovsky and Boucher, Leighton will not start 1 game in the playoffs. If he remains healthy he will be Bob's back up next year.— John-Michael
- HALLELUJAH!!!!— snipesmorris
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HALLELUJAH: The very words spoken by Marian Hossa and Ben Eager:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Bill-Meltzer/Meltzers-Musings-4-6-11/45/35008
HALLELUJAH: Said Kris Versteeg after an easy score.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83itZmpVma0&feature=relmfu
HALLELUJAH is what Patrick Kane said after this easy Cup winner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZcO5IVFffs - FlyerFan4Life wrote:
"HALLELUJAH: Said Kris Versteeg after an easy score."
She was DRUNK, no wonder it was an easy score for Versteeg. - Leaky looks drunk, letting in the Versteeg shot. Check it out yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83itZmpVma0&feature=relmfu
