{"id":41807,"date":"2019-02-19T20:00:06","date_gmt":"2019-02-20T01:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=41807"},"modified":"2020-12-26T16:34:20","modified_gmt":"2020-12-26T21:34:20","slug":"vancouver-canucks-sign-michael-leighton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2019\/02\/19\/vancouver-canucks-sign-michael-leighton\/","title":{"rendered":"Vancouver Canucks Sign Michael Leighton"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/canucks\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vancouver Canucks<\/a> have signed goaltender <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/player\/michael-leighton-8468038\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Michael Leighton<\/strong><\/a> to a one-year, two-way contract.<\/p>\n<p>Canucks general manager Jim Benning announced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/canucks\/news\/vancouver-canucks-michael-leighton\/c-304982738\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the signing<\/a> Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Canucks<\/a> sign goaltender Michael Leighton. Leighton has been designated for assignment to the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UticaComets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@UticaComets<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oOkVnrcubN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/oOkVnrcubN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Canucks\/status\/1097918698478694400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">February 19, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Michael Leighton Signed to Bolster Comets<\/h2>\n<p>Leighton was placed on waivers and designated for assignment to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.uticacomets.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Utica Comets<\/a>, the Canucks&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/theahl.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">American Hockey League<\/a> affiliate.<\/p>\n<p>He was signed by Vancouver to a professional tryout offer in January, <a href=\"https:\/\/theprovince.com\/sports\/hockey\/nhl\/vancouver-canucks\/canucks-find-an-nhl-goaler-for-utica-for-now\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Province<\/a> newspaper reported.<\/p>\n<p>The 37-year-old goaltender has played three games in the 2018-19 AHL season with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ontarioreign.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ontario Reign<\/a>. He posted an .859 save percentage and a 1-1 win-loss record with Ontario.<\/p>\n<p>In Utica, Leighton recorded a .915 save percentage and a 6-1 record in seven games.<\/p>\n<p>Leighton will suit up alongside Comets starter\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockeydb.com\/ihdb\/stats\/pdisplay.php?pid=196582\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Ivan Kulbakov<\/strong><\/a> in his latest AHL stint.<\/p>\n<p>The Petrolia, Ontario native was drafted by the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/blackhawks\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> in 1999. He is a four-time AHL All-Star and earned a spot on the NHL All-Rookie squad in 2001-02.<\/p>\n<p>In 2007-08, Leighton received the Aldege &#8220;Baz&#8221; Bastien Memorial Award for being the AHL&#8217;s most outstanding goaltender.<\/p>\n<p>Leighton holds the AHL records for the most saves in a playoff game with 98 and the lowest goals-against average in a single season with 1.18, which he set in 2008.<\/p>\n<p>In the NHL, Leighton has played 111 regular-season games with the Blackhawks, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/predators\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nashville Predators<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/flyers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Philadelphia<strong> Flyers<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/hurricanes\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Carolina Hurricanes<\/a>. He has a 2.98 goals-against average, .900 save percentage and a 37-43-10 record.<\/p>\n<p>He made the Stanley Cup Final with the Flyers in 2010, going 8-3 with three shutouts in 14 games.<\/p>\n<p>In 341 career AHL games, Leighton boasts a 2.37 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and a record of 242-177-49.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s the all-time AHL shutout leader with 50 and fifth in all-time wins with 242.<\/p>\n<h2>Future Implications<\/h2>\n<p>The Canucks have two netminders, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/player\/jacob-markstrom-8474593\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Jacob Markstrom<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/player\/marek-mazanec-8476992?season=20182019\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Marek Mazanec<\/strong><\/a>, on NHL contracts, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.capfriendly.com\/teams\/canucks\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CapFriendly<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Comets had looked for another goalie with NHL experience after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eliteprospects.com\/player\/155248\/thatcher-demko\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Thatcher Demko<\/strong>&#8216;s<\/a>\u00a0recent call-up to the big club and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/mckenmi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Mike McKenna<\/strong><\/a> leaving <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/2019\/01\/04\/philadelphia-flyers-claim-goaltender-mike-mckenna-off-waivers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">on waivers<\/a> for Philadelphia in January.<\/p>\n<p>He has plenty of NHL experience and an AHL pedigree. Leighton would be a good option as a backup if an injury happens.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, Benning wouldn&#8217;t say if Leighton would see any action in Vancouver if the tryout goes well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ll see how it goes,\u201d (Benning said in a piece published Jan. 19 by <a href=\"https:\/\/theprovince.com\/sports\/hockey\/nhl\/vancouver-canucks\/canucks-find-an-nhl-goaler-for-utica-for-now\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Province<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>The Canucks (26-27-7) are a point away from the second Western Conference wild-card spot. They&#8217;re also 11th in the West, fourth in the Pacific Division and 22nd in the NHL.<\/p>\n<p>The Canucks have gone 3-6-1 in their last 10 games, and if they want to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015, they&#8217;ll need lots of depth in net and on the back end.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2019\/02\/michael-leighton-of-the-carolina-hurricanes-tends-net-against-the-new-picture-id627690420.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/p>\n<p>NEW YORK, NY &#8211; DECEMBER 03: Michael Leighton #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes tends net against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 3, 2016 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Vancouver Canucks have signed goaltender Michael Leighton to a one-year, two-way contract. Canucks general manager Jim Benning announced the signing Tuesday morning. #Canucks sign goaltender Michael Leighton. Leighton has been designated for assignment to the @UticaComets. https:\/\/t.co\/oOkVnrcubN &mdash; Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 19, 2019 Michael Leighton Signed to Bolster Comets Leighton was placed on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2965,"featured_media":41833,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,34],"tags":[5738,2539,157,868,3926,1938,1965,2569,955,852,1025,158],"class_list":["post-41807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-canucks","category-news","tag-hockey-news","tag-ivan-kulbakov","tag-jacob-markstrom","tag-jim-benning","tag-marek-mazanec","tag-michael-leighton","tag-mike-mckenna","tag-news","tag-nhl-news","tag-thatcher-demko","tag-utica-comets","tag-vancouver-canucks"],"modified_by":"Dan Mount, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2965"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41807"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41807\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}