Leighton clears waivers, returns to Flyers
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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 don't get why so many people yesterday were sure he wouldn't clear. To the rest of the league, he's a journeyman player who has had a mediocre career. A claiming team would have been committed to his contract for next year.— 1980- Any team that would have claimed him would only have been responsible for half his salary (about $800K), that's the way re-entry waivers work. Flyers would have paid the balance.
Comment removed.- Hope Leaky enjoys the view from the press box.— eagle1971
- Wow, the Leighton guys are going to love this, especially the ones that have been burying Bobrovsky ( commenting under an article from the guy that covers the team on why he should be a Calder trophy finalist)and Boosh to justify bringing back the 'second coming of Ken Dryden'. Well, good luck with that. I still say if the forwards don't get it together in the next few days, they are out in 6 games in the FIRST round, no matter who is in net.— drbob1
- hey Boosh,...buh bye— SyddBarrett
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- goaltending is not THE issue right now, but it definitely ONE of the issues. Bobrovsky was quite poor last night against Ottawa. — Hexy4GM
- No way: You can't blame Sergei Bobrovsky for what happened last night. He actually kept the Flyers in the game when it was still 1-1 after the club basically sleepwalked through the next two dozen shifts after Mike Richards gave them an early lead.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Bill-Meltzer/Meltzers-Musings-4-6-11/45/35008 - Oh, someone wrote on a blog that Bobrovsky wasn't bad last night? It must be fact. Perhaps you can link a blog from a holocaust denier and rewrite that history too. Fact is, I saw the game with my very own eyes. I saw that no one was in front of the goalie when Spezza beat him short side from the point. I also saw that on the first goal, although there was a player in front of him, Bobrovsky saw the puck and simply missed it with his glove. The highlights are all online, go ahead an watch. Maybe even find a clip or two on YouTube, I know you like YouTube. — Hexy4GM
- If you saw the game with your very own eyes, how did you miss the fact that the Flyer defenders just stood around and let the Ottawa skaters move right in and blast away? Bobrovsky held them in well considering they hung him out to dry all night.
- You know he let in 4 goals right. And, I see you have changed your tune. Now it isn't that he was screened, but that they were allowed to walk in and "blast away" thats good. At least you are admitting that you have no idea what you are talking about, and are just spouting things that you have seen people post on their blog. He held them in well? I thought he let in 2 goals in a one minute span, in the last 1:45 of the second period? It is good to see that you are starting to give an opinion (as wrong as it is) instead of saying Bobrovsky is good just because you think Leighton is bad. — Hexy4GM
- I never said he was screened. Talk about having no clue, you're the one who refers to holocaust denial when discussing hockey?????? It just so happens that the "someone who wrote a blog" is Bill Metlzer, a respected hockey writer with contacts high up in the Flyers' organization. He knows a lot more about hockey than you ever will.
- so, a "high up in the Flyers organization" said publicly that an employee was good. Good point. — Hexy4GM
