Confirmed with Link: Hawks sign Michael Leighton

[Hawkaholic]

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc · 15m
#Blackhawks have agreed to terms with goaltender Michael Leighton on a one-year contract.

Good depth signing, guy has been a pretty good AHL goalie.

Click to read more...

 

[ColdSteel2]

Yeah, this is a perfect No. 3, good signing.

 

[clydesdale line]

Wow.. if he's the Rockford goalie, that is an outstanding get for them.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

Not bad.

 

[MurrayBannerman]

Nightmares

 

[Hawkaholic]

Goalie Guilds thoughts:

The Goalie Guild ‏@TheGoalieGuild · 1m
Signing not a knock on Darling's potential to carry heavy AHL workload. Would even venture to guess they split time. Nice tandem there.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

I'm more than good with this. Can serve as an emergency call up if need be and helps give us options in case of a long-term injury to Crawford or if Raanta stinks up the joint and we need to rethink our backup goaltender position.

 

[hockeydoug]

I have no problem with this signing.
What was the story with all of this though:
http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/28/ex-nhler-leightons-khl-contract-voided-due-to-illness/

I don't see a downside for the Hawks.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Some sorta gift for his role in 2010 cup victory

 

[hockeydoug]

Some sorta gift for his role in 2010 cup victory

haha, that was my first thought when I heard the news.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

The circle of life

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=459669

FLYERS, G LEIGHTON AGREE TO ONE-YEAR DEAL

TSN giving Flyer fans some heart attacks right now with headline to this story on website



Wonder when TSN staff catches mistake

 

[BobbyJet]

I have no problem with this signing.
What was the story with all of this though:
http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/28/ex-nhler-leightons-khl-contract-voided-due-to-illness/

I don't see a downside for the Hawks.

Other than he's terrible. Shows just how weak we are in goaltending depth.

 

[Hawknut 1]

Other than he's terrible. Shows just how weak we are in goaltending depth.

Terrible? If he's terrible he must have really improved.

 

[Sevanston]

Sounds good to me.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Leighton is the #1 for Hogs ,, And that is a role he should excel in as he was usually a very good goalie in minors

 

[Hawkaholic]

Leighton is the #1 for Hogs ,, And that is a role he should excel in as he was usually a very good goalie in minors

We now have 2 very good AHL goalies, now.

Do people expect us to sign good NHL goalies at this point? Newsflash: There is none! (That are willing to play in the AHL)

 

[ChiGuySez]

Terrible? If he's terrible he must have really improved.

Hes got an NHL career .901 save%. I was never a fan of Leighton unless you count 2010. Im not a fan of retaking ground that already been covered but at this point, he can probably help mentor Simpson and/or Carruth.

 

[hockeydoug]

Other than he's terrible. Shows just how weak we are in goaltending depth.

This is very true.
At least they addressed it.

 

[hockeydoug]

Is Darling his backup for sure or do one of the other two have a chance to snag that spot?

 

[No Fun Shogun]

At least according to ESPN Hawks on Twitter, Leighton had apparently been planning to go to the KHL this season before an unspecified illness sidelined him for about a month.

 

[BobbyJet]

This is very true.
At least they addressed it.

Not really. He is okay for the short term ... but ideally that spot should be occupied by a prospect ... problem is we don't have a legitimate prospect in nets. Carruth/Simpson are long shots at best to get a sniff of the NHL. Hawks need to draft more goalies in earlier rounds (after some serious scouting) in a bid to improve that depth in nets.

 

[Kurtosis]

Not really. He is okay for the short term ... but ideally that spot should be occupied by a prospect ... problem is we don't have a legitimate prospect in nets. Carruth/Simpson are long shots at best to get a sniff of the NHL. Hawks need to draft more goalies in earlier rounds (after some serious scouting) in a bid to improve that depth in nets.

I would rather they continue to draft skaters in the early rounds and hope to hit on goalies mid to late. It's a better strategy in my opinion.

 

[Flukeshot]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=459669



TSN giving Flyer fans some heart attacks right now with headline to this story on website



Wonder when TSN staff catches mistake

I had to come here to confirm he indeed wasn't signing with the Flyers. ML is a good guy, deserves good things. Us flyers fans will gripe on him but he definitely played above his skill level and raised his game to help the flyers make the 2010 finals.

Just would've been a bad scene if he had came back to philly.

 

[Hawknut 1]

We now have 2 very good AHL goalies, now.

Do people expect us to sign good NHL goalies at this point? Newsflash: There is none! (That are willing to play in the AHL)

Newsflash: We need one. If Crawford has an off year or goes down. The depth in goaltending with this club is close to nothing.