Yes and we have never seen a goalie who went from a AHL fodder to a good backup?
We have, but that's not what I'm seeing when I see Leighton. I see the same problems that have plagued him elsewhere...poor positioning (leading to wide open nets), bad recovery (see last night), and horrible rebound control.
Right now it's working for him...but I don't see anything that makes me think it's sustainable.
I appreciate that as well, but last night a BAD goal cost us a point in the standings. Being a goalie is high pressure and has a harsh success to failure threshold, similar to being a pitcher, QB, etc. All the good work he did for 59.5 minutes last night was destroyed with one awful goal last night.
Whoa, one goal cost the Flyers a point in the standings? It had nothing to do with the fact that the Flyers potent offense couldn't solve Vezina winner Jeff Druin-Deslauriers and the future Stanley Cup champion Oilers?
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Originally Posted by Jester
Leighton is 28 now and still doesn't have his **** together. Craig Anderson's last "bad" season in the NHL was when he was 24. Since then, he's put up .931 (5 games), .935 (17 games), .924 (31 games), and .924 (47 games). Not really comparable.
Not comparable because Anderson has since played as an NHL regular. Let's see what Leighton does after putting up the numbers he is putting up now. Again, I'm not saying that Leighton is going to turn into Craig Anderson. I'd say that it's highly unlikely. But he's never played in the NHL with success and confidence can do wonders for a goaltender.
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Originally Posted by Jester
Tim Thomas is a whole other bag of marbles, as he's a completely unorthodox mess that relies so much on athleticism it's difficult to discuss him with most other goalies (though, I see a lot of that in Emery as well).
I agree that Thomas' "style" makes it tough to compare, but there were plenty of people who thought that he had zero chance of being a legitimate NHLer.
Not saying that we haven't. But after each game that Leighton plays for the Flyers, despite how many goals he gives up, are posts about how he sucks, yet he then goes out (this time after not playing for a long stretch of games) and plays well again.
How about just being happy that when he has been in net that he has put the team in a position to win games?
Whoa, one goal cost the Flyers a point in the standings? It had nothing to do with the fact that the Flyers potent offense couldn't solve Vezina winner Jeff Druin-Deslauriers and the future Stanley Cup champion Oilers?
...you say this as if no one has criticized the offense. Again, look up, you'll find an entire post by me *****ing about the stupid offensive plays Richards was making last night.
Fact of the matter was that with 16 s. left it was a 0-0 game and a bad goal cost us a point. That doesn't mean the offense doesn't deserve it's own critique. Just like a bad pick-6 by a QB in a 35-35 game doesn't mean the defense should be left out of the discussion as well.
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Not comparable because Anderson has since played as an NHL regular. Let's see what Leighton does after putting up the numbers he is putting up now. Again, I'm not saying that Leighton is going to turn into Craig Anderson. I'd say that it's highly unlikely. But he's never played in the NHL with success and confidence can do wonders for a goaltender.
Not comparable because Anderson developed into a legit NHL goaltender at the age you'd expect him to. Leighton might, but I just don't see it in his game. He's a less athletic (but bigger) version of Nitty.
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I agree that Thomas' "style" makes it tough to compare, but there were plenty of people who thought that he had zero chance of being a legitimate NHLer.
Frankly, I wouldn't want Thomas as my goalie now (same problems I have with Emery). When he's right, that style can stop pretty much everything...but when those guys go into funks it can be ugly.
Not saying that we haven't. But after each game that Leighton plays for the Flyers, despite how many goals he gives up, are posts about how he sucks, yet he then goes out (this time after not playing for a long stretch of games) and plays well again.
How about just being happy that when he has been in net that he has put the team in a position to win games?
I am happy, but I feel we are going to come to regret ditching Boucher if we keep Leighton around.
It's looking like a decision on Leighton or Boucher won't need to be made until the trade deadline. At that point, the options will present themselves. If the Flyers need the cap space they'll keep Leighton. If not, they could still keep Boucher. Complicating things is the fact that Boucher has another year on his contract.
It's looking like a decision on Leighton or Boucher won't need to be made until the trade deadline. At that point, the options will present themselves. If the Flyers need the cap space they'll keep Leighton. If not, they could still keep Boucher. Complicating things is the fact that Boucher has another year on his contract.
Otherwise known as cost certainty. However, I'm sure Leighton would be more than happy to sign a cheaper one-way deal to be the backup.
Goodness people. I was pretty miffed myself last night, but I have since calmed a bit. It was a crappy overall game, BY EVERYONE. The offense couldn't score, and Leighton had a major brainfart in the last 16 seconds of a 0-0 game. They are both to blame. Leighton stills scares the **** out of us, and the team needs to consistently play with some heart. End of story. Time to move on.
speaking of which what are we going to do with Boucher? The guy hasnt played in forever. He is going to be rusty as hell when he gets into a game. Anyone think he could have gone to the AHL for conditioning?
It was a all around team FAIL last night. Our better players were not very good last night and Leighton gives up a garbage goal at the end. Leighton should have stopped that shot and our forwards, especially Richards who missed that open net in the first period.
Its just another point in the standings this team has given away. I have lost count the points they have given away this season.
Kambo and I pretty much saying the same thing. I just realized that lol
Bruzgalov set a NHL record for playoff shutout streak before going to waivers. He is not like Leighton. Leighton can be good enough with a good D to clear his rebounds, but he is not a good goalie
Bruzgalov set a NHL record for playoff shutout streak before going to waivers. He is not like Leighton. Leighton can be good enough with a good D to clear his rebounds, but he is not a good goalie
Leighton's GAA is over 3 (until last night anyway)....he happened to play for this team when we started scoring goals. He could be a decent backup in this league, but I take Boucher over him any day of the week.
Leighton's GAA is over 3 (until last night anyway)....he happened to play for this team when we started scoring goals. He could be a decent backup in this league, but I take Boucher over him any day of the week.
Boucher played great for a stretch too, but the difference is the team was only scoring 1 goal or less each game then.
Boucher played great for a stretch too, but the difference is the team was only scoring 1 goal or less each game then.
Exactly. I dont want to take anything away from Leighton....He has played well, like a solid backup should....but he has been one lucky ******* this season!
I still find it weird that... RANDOMLY.... the team decides to start playing good when he starts (you could see it when he took over Boucher in the middle of the Panthers game) I dont think it was just a coincidence. I still think, because Leighton isnt as "good" as Boucher (Boucher isnt that good either), thats the reason they play better. Your nervous about your goalie, which makes you play harder. I think thats a positive thing, not a negative.
I still find it weird that... RANDOMLY.... the team decides to start playing good when he starts (you could see it when he took over Boucher in the middle of the Panthers game) I dont think it was just a coincidence. I still think, because Leighton isnt as "good" as Boucher (Boucher isnt that good either), thats the reason they play better. Your nervous about your goalie, which makes you play harder. I think thats a positive thing, not a negative.
The thing is though that there's absolutely nothing to support that theory though. It's about as superstitious as you can get.
What I don't get though, supposing that this is true, then how come earlier on when the team was playing so well in front of him it was because of Leighton, yet in a 1-0 loss to Edmonton that theory gets completely thrown out the door.
I mean, when we play well in front of Leighton it's because they work harder in front of him then Boucher. When the offense scores seven goals in front of him it's because they work harder in front of him. When the defense clears all loose pucks it's because of Leighton.
When we play super ****** like against Edmonton and we lose 1-0 we completely forget all that. It isn't Leighton's fault that our offense couldn't pot one goal against the worst team in the league. It isn't Leighton's fault that the defense lost their man in the dying seconds of the third period.
It's like there's no way that Leighton can lose with some of you guys. It's insane.
I still find it weird that... RANDOMLY.... the team decides to start playing good when he starts (you could see it when he took over Boucher in the middle of the Panthers game) I dont think it was just a coincidence. I still think, because Leighton isnt as "good" as Boucher (Boucher isnt that good either), thats the reason they play better. Your nervous about your goalie, which makes you play harder. I think thats a positive thing, not a negative.
I liked Leighton's game after the long layoff. I thought he fought the puck a little early, but he also had some real nice saves on the few point shots that got through. He didn't see some of them through traffic, but he was square and sound and stopped them. He did overplay a little on the only mistake that cost him. If nothing else he showed me that he can jump in there on short notice. I'm probably more confident with Leighton than Boucher ATM.
