Michael Leighton

Michael Leighton
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
Height Weight	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 186 lb (85 kg)
NHL Team F. Teams	Carolina Hurricanes Chicago Blackhawks Nashville Predators Philadelphia Flyers
Nationality	Canadian
Born	(1981-05-19)May 19, 1981, Petrolia, ON
NHL Draft	165th overall, 1999 Chicago Blackhawks
Pro Career	2001 – present

Michael Leighton (born May 19, 1981 in Petrolia, Ontario) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes organization.

Playing career

Leighton began impressing scouts while playing for the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League. Following his rookie season, he was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft with the 165th overall pick. He played two more seasons in the OHL before signing an entry level contract with the Blackhawks prior to the 2001–02 AHL season.

He played two seasons in the AHL for the Norfolk Admirals before making his NHL debut on January 8, 2003. He became the first Blackhawks player to record a shutout in his debut during a scoreless tie against the Phoenix Coyotes' Zac Bierk. Bierk also earned his first career shutout, although it was not his NHL debut. It was the first time that two goalies in the same game both earned their first career shutouts. He would compete with Craig Anderson for back-up duties, and therefore never spent a complete season in the NHL during his time with Chicago.

He would continue to play in the Blackhawks' organization until October 4, 2005, when he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Milan Bartovic. He did not appear in a game with the Sabres, as he spent the season with their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

On July 13, 2006, Leighton signed as a free agent with the Anaheim Ducks and following training camp, the organization assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates. When both Ilya Bryzgalov and Jean-Sébastien Giguère were injured, the Ducks recalled him on November 27 to start. However, he was claimed off waivers by the Nashville Predators. After appearing in just twenty minutes of one game with the Predators, Leighton was again placed on waivers, and this time was claimed by the Philadelphia Flyers on January 11, 2007.

The Flyers placed him on a ten-game conditioning stint with the Philadelphia Phantoms, but recalled him early as Robert Esche was injured. Leighton backed up Antero Niittymäki for one game before making his first NHL start in nearly three years on February 10, 2007 in a win against the St. Louis Blues. After playing four games with the last-place Flyers, Leighton was once again placed on waivers. On February 27, he was picked up by the Montreal Canadiens, but he finished the season without playing a game for his new team. Montreal then traded him to Carolina in exchange for a 7th round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Carolina originally assigned him to their AHL affiliate Albany River Rats, but brought him back to the NHL on January 3, 2008, when John Grahame was sent to Albany after being placed on waivers. Leighton appeared in three games for the Hurricanes, with a record of 1–1–0, before returning to Albany on January 21 as Grahame was recalled to the NHL team.

On April 24, 2008, Leighton set an AHL record making 98 saves on 101 shots, in a playoff game that went to 5 overtimes, also an AHL record.

Awards

• 2007–08: Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award
• 2001–02: AHL All-Rookie Team

Records

• Windsor Spitfires franchise single season record for best goals against average: (2000–01) - 2.73
• Norfolk Admirals franchise record for most career regular season wins: 75
• Norfolk Admirals franchise record for most career regular season shutouts: 18
• First goaltender in Chicago Blackhawks history to record a shutout in his debut
• Most saves in an AHL game: 98

Career statistics

Regular season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1998–99	Windsor Spitfires	OHL		28	4	17	2	1389	112	0	4.84	.867
1999–00	Windsor Spitfires	OHL		42	17	17	2	2272	118	1	3.12	.889
2000–01	Windsor Spitfires	OHL		54	32	13	5	3035	138	2	2.73	.910
2001–02	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		52	27	16	8	3114	111	6	2.14	.920
2002–03	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		36	18	13	5	2184	91	4	2.50	.912
2002–03	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		8	2	3	2	447	21	1	2.82	.913
2003–04	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		18	10	7	1	1081	33	1	1.83	.926
2003–04	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		34	6	18	8	1988	99	2	2.99	.900
2004–05	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		41	20	16	3	2319	78	7	2.02	.921
2005–06	Rochester Americans	AHL		40	15	22	1	2316	124	2	3.21	.887
2006–07	Portland Pirates	AHL		16	8	6	1	962	37	2	2.31	.910
2006–07	Nashville Predators	NHL		1	0	0	0	20	2	0	6.00	.800
2006–07	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		5	2	0	2	270	7	0	1.56	.948
2006–07	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		4	2	2	0	195	12	0	3.69	.882
2007–08	Albany River Rats	AHL		58	28	25	4	3451	121	7	2.10	.931
2007–08	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		3	1	1	0	158	7	0	2.66	.897
AHL totals				266	128	105	25	15697	602	29	2.30
NHL totals				50	11	24	10	2807	141	3	3.01	.900

Playoffs

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2001–02	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		4	1	2	238	8	0	2.01	.927
2002–03	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		4	3	1	240	7	1	1.75	.931
2003–04	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		4	2	1	212	2	2	0.56	.978
2007–08	Albany River Rats	AHL		7	3	4	510	10	2	1.18	.981
AHL totals				19	9	8	1300	27	5	1.25	.980