The American Hockey League has announced their inductees for the AHL Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025. Among the players to be enshrined is former Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia/Adirondack Phantoms goaltender Michael Leighton.
Honoring our storied past.
Recognized by the AHL Hall of Fame Selection Committee as the latest group of enshrinees are Rene Drolet, Dunc Fisher, Michael Leighton, and Michel Picard.
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— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) October 23, 2024
A sixth-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1999, Leighton suited up in 507 AHL contests, the seventh-most in league history, for the Phantoms, Norfolk Admirals, Rochester Americans, Portland Pirates, Albany River Rats, Rockford IceHogs, Charlotte Checkers, Syracuse Crunch, Chicago Wolves, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Ontario Reign, and Utica Comets.
Leighton wrapped up his AHL career with a 250-186-55 record, .916 SV%, 2.38 GAA, and 50 shutouts. He ranks fifth in AHL history in wins and is the league’s all-time leader in shutouts. Leighton was also a five-time AHL All-Star during his career.
Despite never winning a Calder Cup, Leighton did appear in 28 Calder Cup Playoff games. He holds the AHL record for most saves in a playoff game at 98, which he recorded in a 3-2 quintuple-overtime loss with Albany against Philadelphia in 2008, the second-longest game in AHL history. Leighton also took home the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s top goaltender after the 2007-08 season came to an end.
While with the Phantoms, Leighton went 45-39-6 with a .923 SV%, 2.40 GAA, and 7 shutouts in 93 games. Leighton is tied for the best single-season save percentage in Phantoms history at .926 (2010-11) and ranks 7th all-time in team history each in wins and games played.
(AHL.com)
The Petrolia, Ontario native also holds the distinction of being the winning goalie of record in front of the largest crowd in AHL history as the Phantoms defeated the Hershey Bears in overtime, 4-3, while 45,653 spectators cheered at Citizens Bank Park at the 2012 AHL Outdoor Classic.
As well as becoming one of the greatest goaltenders in AHL history, Leighton played 110 games in the NHL for the Blackhawks, Flyers, Nashville Predators, and Carolina Hurricanes.
Leighton appeared in 33 of those games as a Flyer, going 19-8-2 with a .910 SV%, 2.76 GAA, and 1 shutout with the Orange and Black across two stints. He started the first outdoor game in Flyers history, stopping 24 of 26 shots in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins at the 2010 NHL Winter Classic.
Leighton would notably step back into the spotlight during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking over for an injured Brian Boucher in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Bruins. He went on to help lead the Flyers to one of the greatest playoff comebacks in NHL history as the Flyers won Games 5, 6, and 7 with him in goal to erase their 0-3 series deficit and become only the third team at the time to win a series in that fashion.
Leighton remained the starting goaltender in the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals against the Montréal Canadiens, in which he went on to tie a franchise record with 3 shutouts in a single playoff series (Bernie Parent – 1975, Carter Hart – 2020). The Flyers dominated the Canadiens in five games and found themselves in the Stanley Cup Final against the Blackhawks. Unfortunately, the Flyers lost in six games and Leighton infamously let in Patrick Kane’s severe-angle shot in overtime to lose the series.
(Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
After that season, Leighton spent most of his time in the organization with the Phantoms before being traded to Columbus along with a third-round pick for Steve Mason.
Leighton finished his NHL career with a 37-43-14 record, .900 SV%, 2.97 GAA, and 4 shutouts.
Leighton and the rest of the AHL Hall of Fame inductees will be enshrined on February 3rd, 2025 at the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic in Coachella Valley, California.
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