Canes Assign Michael Leighton to Checkers

RALEIGH, NC - Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has assigned goaltender Michael Leighton to the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). Leighton will play for Charlotte in tonight's road game against the Bakersfield Condors.

Leighton, 35, is 1-1 with a 3.05 goals-against average this season for the Hurricanes. The Petrolia, Ont., native ranks third among AHL goaltenders this season in goals-against average (1.66) and save percentage (.937), earning a 6-2-1 record for Charlotte. In 108 career NHL regular-season games, Leighton (6'3", 186 lbs.) has compiled a 36-42-14 record, a 2.96 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage with Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia and Carolina. He was drafted by Chicago in the sixth round, 165th overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, and signed as a free agent with the Hurricanes on Sept. 7, 2016.