Michael Leighton still important to Philadelphia Flyers goaltending line-up –NHL offseason Update
Over his eight season career, Michael Leighton has had a tough time finding a permanent National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, with which he can just settle with and call home for a while before moving again. In his mind, Philadelphia was the team, until
recent reports came up about how Flyers were looking to relieve him of his duties.
Leighton thought of Philadelphia the perfect place to settle himself down at the age of 30, after he signed a two-year, one-way contract last year, which was worth an estimated $1.55 million each season, which would result in a total of $3.1 million over
the duration, until he was placed on waivers for his one game performance last year.
"Last year was disappointing, frustrating, there are lots of words for it'', Leighton said about his hip related injury which confined him for so long.”It was definitely a setback for me, but now, I'm kind of back where I started. I don't know what's going
to happen here. There are quite a few goalies”.
Leighton, a former 165th overall selection during round-six of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by Chicago Blackhawks, has played with a number of teams over the years, inclduign Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, and Carolina Hurricanes.
Now since Philadelphia has signed on veteran Russian goalie, Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year $51 million contract along with Sergei Bobrovsky, Leighton will have to fight for his position and impress the staff in keeping his position.
"I don't think it's worth asking for [a trade]. I'm sure [Holmgren] has an idea, but he's not going to tell me where I'll be. I just need to get healthy and hope it works out that I get to stay here, play another year and go from there,'' Leighton said.
Having played 104 games, the 30-year-old goalie has certainly still a long way to go and maybe, just might make a peak level performance later on during the veteran stages of his career. Keeping Boston Bruins goalie, Tim Thomas, as his role model, it is
certainly a dream which can be attained with a little hard work and dedication.
Tags: