The Canes have made a decision on goaltenders: Michael Leighton is going to Albany and Manny Legace will remain Cam Ward's backup.
The team today assigned Leighton to the River Rats of the American Hockey League (AHL). Leighton, 28, has played in seven games for the Hurricanes this season, posting a 1-4-0 record and a 4.29 goals-against average.
UPDATE: Leighton said Saturday night the Canes would put him on re-entry waivers Sunday. Here's what he told the media after the Rats' game:
“The plan was I was going to go on re-entry waiver. That’s what went on today, but the league refused it, so tomorrow I’m going to be on re-entry. It’s kind of wait and see. If I don’t get picked up, I go back up to Carolina, and they’ve got to figure something out from there. If I don’t clear, then I’m going somewhere else.
“I know Carolina’s got their thing sorted out. I’m not going to get many games there. I’m a free agent after this year and I just want to find somewhere where I can play some hockey. Whether it’s in the NHL or the AHL, I’ve got to find the right fit for me. Whether I get picked up by another team or get loaned to another AHL team, it just comes down to playing hockey, and that’s all I want to do right now.
“I’m not overly happy with the way things went up there and the way I played, but if I get a chance to play in the AHL, I just want to play well and get as many games as I can. Next year I’m going to be looking for a job. If I play 10 games all year, teams aren’t even going to look at me. I need to play lots of games, and if I get loaned to another team and play 30 or 40 games, I’ll look forward to that.”
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Lighten up on Wallin. All
Sun, 12/13/2009 - 11:31 — ctillLighten up on Wallin. All the "secret weapon" stuff is overblown and probably makes him uncomfortable, but he's not as bad as some people say.
The Canes are not the only team to give up on Leighton as an NHL player. It's still possible he will develop the consistency needed to match his talent, and then he'll stick in the NHL. But maybe not.
Conboy was marginal too.
4-2 again ??
Sat, 12/12/2009 - 22:22 — esteban1949gee a blown time out call that the bench should have called...may have prevented the 3rd ottowa goal...and then to add more salt to the wound...for the 3rd game in a row...when the canes goalie gets pulled...the oposistion gets a goal...wassup with that crap...a good game but...
gee the rats play better than the mother team does...but at least the canes as a whole are trying...a few days off and they can get their legs back
Go Canes !!!
like you AD
Sat, 12/12/2009 - 13:33 — esteban1949I personally hate to see Michael go, and then there is the problem of who goes from Albany to Florida Murphy or Peters...gee i hate to be Danials at the moment, but i am sure he hs been on the phone with JR...considering the Rats won again last night...gee..maybe we have the wrong team playing in the wrong divisions...Naw..Just fooling ya !! lets see how carson and "Mr. T" do tonight !!! hehehe...be safe and enjoy tonights game !!
Go Canes !!
Ill-Conceived and Non-Decisions
Sun, 12/13/2009 - 07:23 — SkylinerWe are in agreement about the Leighton situation. He was a standout goalie with Albany and needed developing. Isn't that why we have a goalie coach? I'm not sure he, and Tim Conboy for that matter, were ever given a proper opportunity to develop with the Hurricanes.
Leighton and Conboy have been up and down more than a yo-yo and I question why. They did have some games that were not too their credit, true enough, and when that happened they were promptly dispatched to Albany.
But when Brind'Amour, A. Ward and the injured Wallin continue to post sub-standard games night after night after night after night (ad nausium) their poor play is overlooked...referred to "lovingly" by such improbable names as "The Secret Weapon," good old "Brindy", and the like.
"The Secret Weapon?" Please, how absurd!
Otag 1 called for more positive posts here only yesterday, but management isn't allowing for much of that. It is becoming more clear, at least to me, that management is more dedicated to preserving the image of a once great player, turning a blind eye to his ineptness on the ice now and failing to rectify past signing mistakes.
Leighton and Conboy were not the problems...only symptoms of it and the latest scapegoats.
But, is has been nice to see the Hurricanes play well in the past 4 games. Over time, the team will "be back" and will eventually become a real competitor again...but not until management shows backbone and does something about the players it chooses to protect.
But, with Leighton and Conboy now gone, we'll see an incredible turn around. Right management? After all, you've removed the roadblocks to winning, haven't you!
Ill Conceived?
Sun, 12/13/2009 - 13:29 — robotron2084Wow, I'm so glad to know that the Canes biggest problem is who's Cam Ward's backup. Leighton's a nice enough guy, but he's a marginal NHL goalie as witnessed by the fact that he's already been with 4 NHL teams in his 9 year pro career. But yeah, the Canes are really missing the boat on him. Honestly, this team's problem is NOT with who backs up Cam Ward.
And as for Conboy, again, a nice enough guy, but same answer. This team's problem is not that they're not utilizing a 2-minute per game, 4th liner who's primary contribution is dropping the gloves.
Is Brind'Amour hurting this team? Yeah, I think he is. Does it stink that Wallin has a no-trade clause? Maybe (though I think he's actually a quality top 6 dman). Do I think the front office is trying to "hide" this by sending down Leighton and Conboy? Are you that insane? There is no relationship between the two. But you tell me, what "backbone" would you like them to show with Brind'Amour or Wallin? Want them to send Brindy to the AHL and pay him $3 million to play there? Is that "backbone"? They've already healthy scratched the guy and they can keep benching him to make you happy, but he'll still eat a roster spot and prevent you from recalling Conboy (since he's apparently your solution to the problem). How should they correct their signing mistake with Wallin? This is the NHL and the CBA, not the NFL. You can't simply toss the guy away and pretend his contract doesn't exist. So what exactly would you have them do, right now, to fix their "mistake"?
So much Monday morning GM'ing going on. So many people insisting that Cole and LaRose and Jokinen absolutely had to be re-signed. What a solid pickup A.Ward was given what he showed in Boston. Well it hasn't worked out and now it's the GM's fault for being all nostalgic. Fess up, most would have done the exact same thing, but most of us wouldn't have built teams that have been to the Conference Finals 3 times in 7 seasons. Yes, they've made mistakes. Nothing is perfect in this business, but I still like the track record.
Insane! Isn't that just a
Sun, 12/13/2009 - 18:46 — SkylinerInsane!
Isn't that just a little big strong, pal?
Oh drat! Guess I'm off your Christmas card list for exercising an opinion contrary to yours. But if, as you say, you actually delieve Wallin is a "quality top 6 d-man" then we'll never agree.
Perhaps better reader comprehension would help you in determinining just what is printed. Never said the two I mentioned were solutions to anything. My point was that we have a troika of players whose absence of petrformance is so overwhelming even Helen Keller could see it. ...while others who are seldom seen on the ice are relegated to Albany while more seasoned veterans, highly paid as well, perform at a lesser level and continue to get ice time.
Now that shouldn't be too difficult for an adult to understand...unless he uses the ubiquitous "wow." My six-year-old grandson says "wow" a lot.
To quote you" so much Monday morning GMing going on"....Oh heck yes, there is a distinct possibility I am a bit mentally compromised, but I at least know what day it is.
It's not Monday...my post was made on Sunday!
Now Robotron you keep me on that Christmas card list. We might even get to be buddies after all. I sure hope so.
Yup. Insane
Sun, 12/13/2009 - 22:30 — robotron2084When your examples of what the Canes are doing wrong is "yoyo'ing" Leighton and Conboy, then yup, I'll stick by my opinion.
But fine, ignore my request for what the Canes should be doing instead. I didn't argue that Brindy is hurting the team, and he was healthy scratched and you can keep benching him, but it won't get you a callup from Albany nor will it save you any money. So please, do tell. How should they fix their mistakes. And I'll stick by Wallin as a top 6 guy when healthy. I'm certainly taking him ahead of Harrison and Carson right now. But again, aside from sitting him in the press box with Brindy, still taking a roster spot with his no trade clause, tell me how you are going to fix the mistakes because all I read was that they shouldn't send down Leighton and Conboy.
And I'm not here to get on people's Christmas list or stroke their opinions. I'm just as free to express my own, thanks. It goes both ways. Don't like your opinion commented on? Then don't post it. Comment away...
Robotron Rides Again
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 08:38 — SkylinerAs Ronakld Regan said "There you go again" with the name calling. Oh Robotron, let's not take ourselves too seriously merely because we have access to a public forum.
It matters not whether you comment on my thoughts or not except you seem to be rather fixated on them as witnessed by your continuing to encourage dialoguie, i.e., "Comment away."
But surley someone as opinionated as you present yourself to be must be aware that behind every problem there is a probable solution. I do believe that is why management is paid mega bucks....to find even marginal solutions to problems.
And as for Wallin being a top line D man...he right up there with Pronger of Philadelphia and Green of Washington, right? Well, they are top D men!
I've think we'be beat this one to death so I won't respond again (on this one)_...I'll give you the last word.
Go have a great day Robotron, but I do have one request of you. Since you insist I'm insane, will you come see me at the home?
Name calling?
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 11:56 — robotron2084Not me. I did not call you insane, just the thought that moves like sending Leighton or Conboy back to the AHL is "hiding" from the real problems. Those moves were made because there's a roster limit to be observed.
On Wallin, I called him a top 6 dman, not top pairing, so no, I did not say he's anywhere near Pronger or Green. But as a 5th/6th guy, he is more than servicable and better than the options IMO.
I think I'm saying the same thing your are. That there are probable solutions to these problems, but I'm having trouble finding them giving the handcuffs of current contracts (particularly no-trade clauses) and the rules of the CBA. Again, I said Brindy was a problem, but it's one we're effectively stuck with. I'm still waiting to hear an idea that doesn't involve who's our backup goalie or a two-minute per game 4th line mucker.
Being a GM is a tough job. It's easy for us to say that Brindy or Wallin should just "go away", and in some sports you can make that happen. However the NHL isn't one of those. It's easy to say trade them, but you do have to have a partner willing to take them. It's easy to say, now, what were they thinking signing Cole, LaRose and Jokinen now that they aren't producing a thing, but I certainly heard plenty of folks saying doing so was absolutely critical back in June. It's easy to say all these things, but it is the very business of hockey, and the CBA, that makes doing them quite complicated.
Hey Skyliner
Sun, 12/13/2009 - 20:11 — esteban1949while to each of us our opinions do rate higher merit than the other guys do...but you and i both know that many of the fans here many times are smarter and more intune to what the Canes are & are not. As you have seen me say on several occassions here that I am very thankful, i am NOT in JR's shoes...as if I had my way, much of what was done in the off season wouldn't have.....and several of the players we now have or were brought back, wouldn't have been...just imagine how the Canes record could or would have looked like if I had been the GM.... And when you multiply that by 15 other fans here, we'd have a real mess, even though many of us would make simular moves and etc, but over all many of us would have shaken the team up in some areas...and solidified it in others. Would we be right ? Sadly ( maybe) we'll never know will we ?? And then and yes your grandson really would have something to say " wow" about. Mine, when he as that age went through the Whoa baby or Holy Cow stage...Be safe and have a good week...Catch up with you later sir
Go Canes !!
Esteban: Always a pleasure
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 08:24 — SkylinerEsteban: Always a pleasure to hear your thoughts as they are wrapped in measured and well-considered tones and carry a great deal of wisdom and logic. And besides, you sir, are obviously a gentleman. I appreciate that.
Actually, I'm rather new to hockey, having played baseball all my life and coached after the playing days. I understand that losing is the other end of winning and victory is a sometimes reward for having participated. Noone can logically expect constant Cups.
I don't profess to know a great deal about hockey, but I do know about the business end of a business (and hockey is a business) . I've felt that management's good business judgment is superceded by emotional decisions. I do believe that Mr. Rutherford has brought us some teriffic buys and made terrible mistakes with other players. But let's not excoriate him for being human.
I figured with (where we sit) that one trip to the RBC Center, plus tickets, parking, food and drink, top out at about $l20.00...and bump about $5,000 per home season.
As for value received, one would hope that the Hurricanes could at least field a competitive team, and I do feel badly for Rod Brind'Amour. But I don't believe management is hard line enough to find a mechanism for dealing with him.
Solving the problem isn't a matter for fans, but somewhere a solution does exist. Over time, I think it'll be found.
But more important than hockey, far more important, are the grandchildren we speak about. Aren't grandkids simply great!!!
Now you be safe and to lean on your dependable phrase..."Go Canes."
Yes Skyliner
Mon, 12/14/2009 - 09:09 — esteban1949We fans do invest in our participation to come and "support" a team...and that is where the rub comes in...many fans expect a team to be like a bag of micro-wave popcorn...ready & perfect in a flash...so when this doesn't happen we get all cranked up and bent out of shape and etc...So isn't it any wonder why the free will our creator endowed us with gets so used and abused many times ?? We as fans chose to go and support a team...no one put a gun to our heads and said...go or die...so don't be too quick on Ronnie's quote ( even though it is very true BTW) as each fan here is only doing what each one thinks and feels...even if & when we are dead wrong...we fans wrong ?? Oh please...hehehe...and in closing...yes grand children are the greatest...i love spoiling mind and sending them back...sort a payback to them for being so "loving" when they were just kids...
have a good week...and yes...Go Canes !!
Leigthon to Albany
Sat, 12/12/2009 - 23:28 — abramsdougThat decision is not surprising. I would have thought some other NHL teams might have had an interest in Leighton. He probably is best suited for the KHL next year. All Hurricanes fans wish him the best of luck I am certain. From the update, it is clear that Leighton will be placed Sunday on re-entry waivers. Hopefully, he won't clear waivers and some team will want him.