The Arizona Coyotes have assigned goaltender Michael Leighton on loan to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.
Leighton, a five-time AHL All-Star, was acquired by the Coyotes on Nov. 14 in a trade from Tampa Bay. He appeared in nine AHL games with Syracuse this season, going 3-3-2 with a 3.03 goals-against average and an .868 save percentage.
The AHL’s career leader in shutouts (49), Leighton has appeared in 474 career AHL games with a record of 235-175-46, ranking fifth all-time in victories and eighth among goaltenders in games played. He was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team in 2001-02 and won the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding goaltender in 2007-08.
In postseason play, Leighton owns the AHL records for saves in a single game (98, in a five-overtime loss on Apr. 24, 2008) and for lowest GAA in a single playoff year (1.18, in 2008). He shows a 1.67 GAA, a .946 save percentage and five shutouts in 28 career Calder Cup Playoff contests (13-12).
The Petrolia, Ontario, native has also played in 110 career NHL games with Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia and Carolina, posting a record of 37-43-14 with a 2.98 goals-against average, a .900 save percentage and four shutouts. Leighton has also appeared in 16 career Stanley Cup Playoff games including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final with the Flyers in 2010, going 8-3 with three shutouts in 14 games that postseason.
Leighton was originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth round, 165th overall, at the 1999 NHL Draft.
