All this time in an NHL Training Camp was weird for Michael Leighton. It’s like being in space without gravity. Now, he’s touched back down on solid ground. Famililar territory. His comfort zone. The waiver wire.
Leighton was waived (again) today by the Philadelphia Flyers, and if he clears the process he’s been through about 600 times at this point in his career, he’ll be assigned to the Adirondack Phantoms, where another goalie nightmare awaits him.
Down (or perhaps up is the proper direction) in Glens Falls, the Phantoms have Jason Bacashihua, Johan Backlund, Brad Phillips and likely now Leighton battling for two spots in their crease. Losing one of those guys would make things a lot easier, but I guess it’s a good problem to have. Organizational depth at a position, even if that depth is AHL-quality, isn’t really a bad thing.
And besides, Leighton is absolutely adored by the fans in Glens Falls. He really is a great AHL level goaltender, and it showed last season in the Phantoms’ second-half turnaround with him in net. He’s a big piece of that team and their success kind of relies on him in a big way. We want the young guys with AHL potential there to play in a winning enviroment, and Leighton’s presence in goal goes a long way toward that.
We’ll find out at 12 p.m. Friday if he clears or not.
