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Carolina Hurricanes: The Curious Case of Cam Ward’s Backups

By Jeb Bohn

SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 2: Goaltender Cam Ward #30 of the Carolina Hurricanes stretches on the ice during warm ups against the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on April 2, 2018 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cam Ward
SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 2: Goaltender Cam Ward #30 of the Carolina Hurricanes stretches on the ice during warm ups against the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on April 2, 2018 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cam Ward /
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NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 26: Forward J.P.Dumont of the Nashville Predators skates through the defense of forward Jussi Jokinen #36 of the Carolina Hurricanes and scores a goal against Hurricanes goalie Michael Leighton #49 during a pre-season NHL game at the Sommet Center on September 26, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 26: Forward J.P.Dumont of the Nashville Predators skates through the defense of forward Jussi Jokinen #36 of the Carolina Hurricanes and scores a goal against Hurricanes goalie Michael Leighton #49 during a pre-season NHL game at the Sommet Center on September 26, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Michael Leighton

Acquired from Montreal during the summer of 2007 to bolster the Hurricanes’ goaltending depth, Michael Leighton saw action in 3 games during the 2007-08 season after John Grahame was placed on waivers and demoted.

Unfortunately, Leighton didn’t fare better than Grahame:

2007-08: 3GP; 1W; 1L; 2.66 GAA; .897 SV%; 0 SO

Leighton entered the 2008-09 season as Ward’s primary backup and didn’t make out better:

2008-09: 19GP; 6W; 7L; 2.92 GAA; .901 SV%; 0 SO

Sadly, the downward trend continued for Leighton in the 2009-10 season:

2009-10: 7GP; 1W; 4L; 4.28 GAA, .848 SV%; 0 SO

Leighton was placed on waivers in December of 2009 and claimed by Philadelphia.  After spending time in Philadelphia, Chicago, and the KHL, Leighton returned to the Carolina Hurricanes as a free agent in 2016 on a two-way contract.

While his AHL numbers were good, Leighton couldn’t translate that success in his limited play with the Hurricanes:

2016-17: 4GP; 2W; 2L; 3.43 GAA; .870 SV%; 0 SO

After his second stint with the Carolina Hurricanes, Leighton moved on to Tampa Bay, Arizona, and Pittsburgh, but has not played in another NHL game.

Best Performance: Leighton stopped 38 out of 39 shots in a 3-1 win over the Washington Capitals on December 7th, 2008

Overall Impression: Michael Leighton always struck me as a good guy.  While his sporadic play for the Carolina Hurricanes never justified more ice time at the NHL level, his career AHL stats aren’t too shabby.

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