Manny Legace To Start Vs. Kings
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 10, 2009 1:15 PM EST
149 comments
Chip Alexander reports at Canes Now that Manny Legace, who was signed yesterday in the wake of Cam Ward's leg injury, will get the start tomorrow night against the Los Angeles Kings at the RBC Center.
The comments from coach Paul Maurice point to the decision being made based on the amount of playing time Legace has seen this season compared to Canes backup Michael Leighton. Maurice, of course, is the one who dictated Leighton's playing time.
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Ugh,
not because I’m thing Legace is not good, but because Mo is IMNSHO punishing Leighton for Mo’s own actions.
Oh yes, FIRST!
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
I feel for Leighton in all of this. I really think he is a better goalie than we have given him a chance to be in this organization. Between Grahame’s sorry keister holding a one way contract that kept Leighton in the A when he deserved to be the backup, and the hiring of Paul “Ride your #1 into the ground” Maurice, Leighton has never had a chance to get into his groove.
This has to be frustrating as hell for him.
I was worried about this happening as soon as Chip mentioned that JR might be looking to sign another goalie. I’d like to think they would alternate starts (or at least share them more equitably than the Cam-Leights tandem), but I don’t see it happening. Unless Legace tanks his first couple times out, Leighton will once again get buried on the bench. Poor guy must be frustrated beyond belief; he’s never gotten a decent chance to prove what he can do.
I know Leighton has to be a “good team player”
And I’ve not been high on either him or Cam Ward this season….
But C’Maaaaaan! The guy has been a total professional throughout his two starts in the last bazillion games…. it should be his job to lose….
I do have faith in Manny Legase though…. I just really feel bad for Leighton.
Wonder if Manny will slap a stormy sticker (or something) on that white helmet between now and then…???
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 10, 2009 1:30 PM EST reply actions
I seriously hate this for Leighton. So yea, the couple of games he’s played haven’t been fantastic. But neither have Ward’s. But how do you expect somebody to play good when they can’t even get in there long enough to get warmed up. I can’t imagine how Leights feels if I’M this frustrated.
I’m excited about Legace…old man better step it up. But my gosh, give Leighton a freakin’ chance.
Well daaaannnng…. why are you so bored? LOL
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 10, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
Leights is a backup goalie.....
I am excited to see Legace play tomorrow night, I have been playing with him on my Carolina Hurricanes Franchise team in NHL2009 all summer (his stats are awesome in that game) and its going to be fun to see the guy in an actual canes jersey, instead of just a video game one!
With that said, I was kind of hoping to see them give Leighton a chance to lose the job, but like someone said, Mo is punishing Leights for Mo’s actions……but……If we had known Cam was going to go down with a 4+ week injury I think Leighton would of gotten more starts this season, but we didn’t know that.
I have always liked Leighton and wished we would play him more also, he showed some real talent last year on that west coast road trip against San Jose…and a simple Google search reveals how awesome he was in the AHL…but….He is the backup goaltender on this team is he not? Tomorrow night he will be doing what he planned to do tomorrow night all season, he will be available to be a backup goaltender for our team. It sucks for him, it really does, and I do agree "the right thing" to do would have been to start Leighton tomorrow and Legace on Friday.
I am hoping Legace brings that change the team needs to go out there and find a W somehow, and if he doesn’t, I am sure Leighton won’t mind taking off that ball cap, opening the door for himself for once, and showing the fans, players, coaches and management which of the 2 goalie positions he deserves.
I’m glad we got Legace. Leights might be a great guy and a good team member but he is not NHL goalie material, IMO. He is a GREAT AHL goalie. His AHL goalie of the year speaks to that. However, I think Leights is a perfect example of a guy who can be great in the AHL and just not have what it takes to play in the NHL.
I’m sure his playing time is a consideration. However, I am not willing to watch our Canes lose more games just to get Leighton more time on the ice and wait (PRAY) for him to “regain” his playing ability. And that’s assuming that he has it in the NHL.
Couple things to add on Leighton
Check out this 49-second interview with Leighton from yesterday. I thought his comment that suggesting that he found out that Legace was now on the team was when he saw his gear at practice Monday morning was pretty indicative of the team’s attitude towards him.
At practice today, I was at the end with Legace and focused there. After practice, another regular and long-time Caniac told me she was watching at the other end and Leights was giving up goals any which way they came at him. She is a fan of Leighton’s, and wasn’t thrilled with the Manny hire, and this was disappointing for her to see that.
While you’re over there, look around that WRAL video site to see video of the media session with Manny yesterday and also with Mo (though the audio is terrible of that).
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
I think he’s a classy guy too. That said, at practice yesterday, I thought you could tell who cared more. The fact that Leighton wasn’t focused in on every puck at practice isn’t necessarily his fault considering what he had just found out. BUT… if you’re trying to get that job, you better work your butt off… and he didn’t appear to be doing that (as well as Manny was).
Can anyone say Leights has been given a fair chance to show if he has or has not got what it takes in the NHL. I think Mo just shot him in the head and I am not surprised about how he practiced today. Mo may have killed an NHL goalie.
I do think Leighton is shot mentally. I have no idea who’s to blame. (maybe no one – just a bad set of circumstances).
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 3:57 PM EST up reply actions
He did a radio interview with 620 the Buzz and I thought he sounded deflated, but didn’t want to read too much into it. Now I’m not so sure I was completely off base.
I thought he played a hell of a game in San Jose last season…
He shut down Atlanta in his Debut w/ the team while John Graham was on the crapper….
Mo took over and I think Leights has started 4 games since….
He has had some mop up duty this season…. and the games he lost were not really his fault (Philly could have been better for him… but the whole team played like crap)
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 10, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions
I mentioned them splitting time earlier and this quote makes it seem like they’ll have plenty of time to split.
The move doesn’t necessarily indicate that the team prefers one goaltender over another for the term of Ward’s recovery from a leg laceration, which is expected to last 4-6 weeks from this past Saturday.
A little bit different than the 3-4 weeks we’d been told earlier.
I saw this yesterday but didn’t post it with all the Manny talk. The Injury list on the Canes site said 4-6 weeks yesterday. Wonder when they’ll get the evaluation from the team doctor – and when they’ll share the findings with the public.
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
Is is safe to assume that Cam Ward is listed as “Week-To-Week” with a “Lower Body Injury?”
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 10, 2009 10:27 PM EST up reply actions
no – they’re more specific. Check the link. It was updated at 11am this morning.
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 10:31 PM EST up reply actions
I know – but still it’s worth seeing the words:
Cam Ward Leg laceration (11/7), out minimum 3-4 weeks
More detail than you usually get…(More than I need actually)
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 10:35 PM EST up reply actions
I am getting an upper body injury….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 10, 2009 10:36 PM EST up reply actions
?
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 10:39 PM EST up reply actions
Yea, that quote makes it seem like it might be split. But for some reason, I get the feeling that he “doesn’t necessarily” mean that either.
Cam Ward -- Any More News
Canes Country Twitter and Lets Go Canes twittered that Rutherford was saying Cam Ward’s injury was not as bad as first thought and that Cam Ward might be back in two weeks. Any more information?
On another topic, Cam Ward had not been using an second pad on his legs, at least according to Columbus’ goalie, and if so, perhaps it would be a great idea for Cam Ward to go with additional padding. I know if he were my responsibility on the team, I’d be taping pads to him anyplace it was legal. He’d look like the Michelin tire man if I had to be the guy to report back to the team Cam Ward was out with another slash/cut to his legs.
seeing as how this is the second time this has happened to Cam… he needs to start wearing leathers or something….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 10, 2009 10:29 PM EST up reply actions
OT, but the River Rats just posted this Q&A with Boychuk on Facebook.
I haven’t read the whole thing yet, but what he says about Canes fans is awesome.
Thanks for this!
The kid has personality. My personal favorite may have been this one:
What do you like to do in your free time, when you’re not playing hockey? – Kevin from Boston, Mass.
Golf’s a big one. I don’t know if the season here is going to be much longer, but I’ve been up a few times and usually do so in the summer. Now that I’m out of junior hockey, I’ve been really getting into cooking my own meals, doing my own laundry, and doing a lot of the things that you kind of took for granted as a junior hockey. You get to be pretty busy paying your bills and doing all that type of stuff. It’s been pretty interesting, and I’ve definitely been improving as a person over the beginning of my first pro season.
Welcome to the bigs Chuckie.
LOL…. yeah…. Welcome to LIFE chuckie….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 10, 2009 10:32 PM EST up reply actions
I wish I could go back to the time of not having to pay bills, cook my own meals and doing my own laundry. Those were good times.
I think it’s funny that’s how he spends his free time. I can just see he and Sutter sitting on their sofa arguing over who had to load the dishwasher and whose turn it was to pay the water bill.
Nice find yeaus!
This is great. And he liked it here as much as we liked having him! Can’t wait till he returns (Mo – what were you thinking!!?)
Hate to burst his bubble, but do we think the Chuck Norris signs were for him or were they for Rosey?
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 5:33 PM EST up reply actions
Trade Leighton after Wardo is healthy
Hey dump Leighton b/c if we had any faith in him as an organization then we would have called up Peters or Murphy and let him play which is what a backup is suppose to be capable of doing. But know we go and get Legace which is really and interesting move but JR is just not ready to call this season a throw away which it is b/c with every loss we are putting ourselves in a huge whole which this season we are not going to play ourselves out of.
Why send down Boychuk ? Admit that it is over JR and have a firesale.
Still going to see the Blackhawks game on the 30th of Jan and god only knows what this team will look like then but who knows ?
canes fan till I die.
by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Nov 10, 2009 4:50 PM EST reply actions
It’s easy to say “trade this guy, trade that guy,” but there’s simply not a market for Leighton.
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 10, 2009 4:57 PM EST up reply actions
I agree there is no market for Leighton. If we trade anybody when Cam gets back it should probably be Manny. If he shows anything, with his career and cap number, he might be a good asset to a team in need of a goalie with cap issues.
by PackPride17 on Nov 10, 2009 7:47 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I agree there is no market for Leighton. If we trade anybody when Cam gets back it should probably be Manny. If he shows anything, with his career and cap number, he might be a good asset to a team in need of a goalie with cap issues.
by PackPride17 on Nov 10, 2009 7:47 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
His contract is up in June, (right?) so just sit him if they’re not using him. Same as the last couple seasons. It’s not like he’s so expensive they can’t afford that. Mostly his job title is “practice goalie.”
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 5:15 PM EST up reply actions
In a variation of the Highlander theme, “there can be only 23”.
The IR list lets us temporarily exceed that count on who’s up, but at the end of the day, someone has to go somewhere when you “sit” too many bodies.
I know you know this, hockeymomof2, but sometimes I see this little fact of NHL life treated a bit casually by others. It all goes to the mantra that “these things take time”.
Put him on waivers then. Or buy out his contract … I don’t understand how the only option is to trade him.
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 6:27 PM EST up reply actions
If Leighton cleared waivers, but no one claimed him (same as Yelle’s case), then he’s still on the roster and counts toward the roster limit of 23.
He could, however, then be sent down to the AHL, where there are already two goalies and their own roster limit issues, so I’m not sure that is a viable solution. We would still owe him his full NHL salary, as well, even though he would be in the AHL, since I believe he has a one-way contract.
So, buying him out may very well be an option if you want to make room for Legace for the remainder of the year. Leighton’s over 25 years old, so that would be at two-thirds his salary. But, I’m not terribly sure just how all of that works.
Best scenario of all, to make room for Legace (assuming he looks like a keeper for the remainder of the year), would be to bundle Leighton in a multi-player trade in lieu of a pick/prospect as a consideration. A team that needed depth in the goalie position might look at that favorably.
Leighton is our backup goalie. We are in a deep hole. It is a no-brainer to me that you bring in a true NHL tested goaliein Cam’s absence to see if we can begin to turn things around.
I think Cam will be out a good while. So why would you try to go with someone who has limited NHL experience and an AHL backup. You need an NHL netminder to replace an NHL netminder. Period. My two cents.
GO CANES! Go Heels!
They should play Leighton because he’s done everything he can do in the minors. He had a brief chance early last year to prove himself but that was it. His spot starts are so rare that the, uh, average results are too easily dismissed.
True, he may be slotted as the backup goalie but he has to be able to perform at this level with the full support of the team and staff or we might as well have Tripp Tracey.
Playoff hopes are gone. We’re basically conducting 5-month tryouts for next year. Let’s see what he’s got. If he’s that bad, cut him loose, keep Manny. If he shows all the promise he displyed in the AHL, well I guess Cam shouldn’t have just got a 6 yr/6bazillion contract.
by drifterscape on Nov 10, 2009 6:57 PM EST up reply actions
While we're discussing who's on the ice vs the Kings:
Tweet from Chip A after practice.
ice_chip Joni Pitkanen still fighting a cold. Maurice expects him to play. Ray Whitney may be game-time decision. Whitney did practice today.
So, If they decide at 6pm that Ray is not dressing, exactly who will fill in on the top line? Have we now got ourselves a Albany-Raleigh “transporter”?
- Scottie, havya got a lock on Zach yet? Hurry! KK’s out there already! I need that boy here now!
- I’m tryin’ as hard as I can, Cap’n Mo, but I’m not a miracle worker, y’know!
(Since the resolution is poor, that would be Bowman, Boychuk and Rodney aka the Paladin Dream Team)
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
Thats cute! good job HM! I would love to know who will take whits place if he truly is a “gametime decision”
puckdrops RT @CraigCustance: Jim Rutherford said Cam Ward’s injury may not be as bad as originally thought. Ward could actually return in two weeks.20 minutes ago from UberTwitter
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
Maybe the test results came in this afternoon after the Branecky piece was written? I just RT’d it for CC.
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 7:25 PM EST up reply actions
You’d think he would wait for them to come in. For that matter, you’d think JR would wait for the results before signing another goalie. This has the potential to get sticky really quickly.
Don’t get me wrong though, Cam can’t heal fast enough for my liking.
Goalie shuffle?
I’m beginning to smell a goalie upgrade move behind all of this, with Manny as the new back-up to both rest and challenge Cam, whenever he comes back.
Under this conspiracy theory, this move is also aimed as a “shake-up” move to buoy the locker room. A positive reinforcement moreso than a negative one. A confidence-builder, if you will (“Look what we got you, guys.”).
If so, whenever Cam feels he’s ready, JR will pull trigger on something that returns value for Leighton’s considerable potential and AHL track record.
Tell me I’m nuts.
Ok. You’re nuts. LOL.
Honestly, I think with Manny signed they’d love if someone would just claim Michael off waivers once Cam is healthy. The value is in shedding his salary I think. The Vanes didn’t exactly boost his value by rushing to sign Legace before they even knew Cam’s prognosis.
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 10, 2009 8:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Canes, not Canes. Dumb iPod fingers.
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 10, 2009 8:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
You’re not nuts. It makes a lot of sense-almost too much sense considering the track record of the hockey world in general.
How long have we been screaming for JR to get a decent back-up goalie (no offense to Leights)? We all just assumed that it would be Murphy in a few years, but maybe JR is looking to shore up the present. I would have been very surprised if they had resigned Leighton even before all of this and now it’s looking less and less likely. Maybe this was the “chance” JR was looking for to make an upgrade.
The nuts part is getting something of value for Leighton. Silly.
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 10, 2009 8:50 PM EST up reply actions
Don’t underestimate the value of some pucks, a new hockey stick or two and 12 rolls of stick tape. Maybe they would be willing to throw in some new hats for the fellas to wear after practice too.
Wow that was mean. I’m sorry Leighton.
I’m not saying he’s w/o value, it ’s just ….
Well, if a proven commodity like Legace could be had for a two-way deal, you’d think teams in need of a goalie would have kicked his tires some (maybe they have) rather than deal for an unproven guy on a one-way deal.
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 10, 2009 8:59 PM EST up reply actions
I wasn’t disagreeing with you. I was agreeing in my own sarcastic way that there is almost no market for Leighton right now and there may never be while he’s still under contract.
What I consider the sad part is that this isn’t really Leighton’s fault. There are some guys that just blow it all on their own (Emery comes to mind) and then there are some that are victims of circumstance.
I agree that’s the tough part of the deal, getting value for Leighton.
Still, you know JR. He’ll make Leighton the throw-in on some FA deal, if nothing else. After all, he managed to throw off Tverdovsky’s salary in the Gleason deal. If he can do that, he can do anything. :-D
And, although I’m quick to make it Leighton on the outgoing part of that trade, I suppose the next few games will begin to decide who stays and who goes.
So true: He CAN do anything
Don’t forget the Jussi deal……So you’re right. Never underestimate the value of any hockey player, if JR’s spinning the tale.
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 9:57 PM EST up reply actions
But what are the odds he gets a deal going with a team that…unaware again? It was like taking candy from a baby-way too easy.
Honestly, I think that particular bundle of “talent” was accepted for Jokinen because it was all about the contracts.
That co-management bunch down there had so screwed up their roster that they were desperate to shed contracts that went past the summer (Jokinen’s) and only wanted ones that were expiring that year (ours) in return.
They just wanted to liquidate contracts in order to get back out on the free agent market during the summer.
Except Jokinen’s contract expired this past summer. He was a RFA and signed a new 2-yr contract with JR at a discount from previous terms in June (before Cole and LaRose IIRC).
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 10:28 PM EST up reply actions
I’m going with the theory that Mo convinced JR that Leighton wasn’t reliable. But JR wanted Cam to get more time off. So the injury forced the issue, and now Manny is a #2 Mo will be confident in, and Cam won’t have to start 30 games in a row (I hope!)
Cory – Can’t we pay off Leighton for less than $400,000 and solve the roster problem?
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
They could send him to Albany, but then you have a glut of goalies there. Or you send him lower (Everblades). But he’d get paid the same in both scenarios.
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 10, 2009 9:10 PM EST up reply actions
I think buyouts can only be done at a certain time, so we’re stuck.
by PackPride17 on Nov 10, 2009 9:11 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Off topic
has anybody noticed Pittsburgh whole defense is injured? Orpik also got hurt tonight.
by PackPride17 on Nov 10, 2009 9:23 PM EST via mobile reply actions
We play them in Pittsburgh Dec 7th. Hopefully we’ll have our Staal back in the saddle again by then….Cole would enjoy a game in the Igloo with Orpik on the IR. How serious was the Orpik injury?
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 9:44 PM EST up reply actions
I feel bad for Leighton. You know that in his heart of hearts he felt like this could be his chance to prove himself in the NHL. To have that jerked out from under him with Mo’s ridiculously lame excuse has got to be a crushing blow.
The Canes will win tomorrow night. Legace is gonna be fired up and the rest of the team will pick up on that and play well. And then, Mo will ride Legace until Cam is back. They have eleven games left this month, only one set of back-to-backs, and i’ll be surprised if Leighton gets more than 2 starts. If the Cam-out-only-2-weeks bit is true, Leighton may never see the ice for the Canes again. That’s a shame, because the San Jose game last year was a pivotal point in the season. I think it’s unfair to kick Leighton to the curb when he hasn’t been given the chance to play. Unfortunately, fair has nothing to do with it, and I’ll get over it real fast if the Canes get on a win streak.
Y’all are killing me with your mad Photoshop skillz.
In a previous discussion someone was interested in seeing what Legace looks like standing beside Andrew Alberts. This isn’t the best picture composition-wise but you’ll get a sense of perspective between him and A-squared:
Also, some photos from practice from the last two days. Toward the end of today’s practice we were starting to see a few smiles
Sisu
Are you sure that’s not Irbe ? Same white leg pads. Needs more of a cage look for his mask though.
by drifterscape on Nov 10, 2009 10:31 PM EST up reply actions
There are so many great ones in this set, LTD. I thought this one was remarkable:
I’m hoping Manny can actually see the puck around all these big bodies.
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
I just hope he can still close that five hole!
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 10, 2009 10:19 PM EST up reply actions
My favorite pairing of the top one is the fierce look on AWard’s face going shoulder to shoulder with Scotty Walker.
Mostly I liked seeing so much action compressed into one frame with all the players clearly visible. Also captures how focused they were today. It was relatively quiet and they seemed all to have a lot of inner thinking going on, in a good way.
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 10, 2009 10:38 PM EST up reply actions
I wonder if AWard still gives Scotty a little extra space in the lockerroom. ;)
And is it just me or did all of the text from about mid way down turn into italics?
Yeah, but you see I cured it. We have no more italics because I put in a comment.
;)
Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader
Today’s practice was really interesting, I was just thinking about this as I was culling through my pictures… It started out intense and workmanlike, but sometime during practice the tone changed. Today, more than I’ve seen recently, there was a lot of active dialogue, a lot of discussion, not just talk from the coaches, but conversations between the players and the coaches and between the players themselves. And then toward the end I saw some smiles I hadn’t seen as much lately. Almost like the gears started turning about how they are actually going to work themselves out of this mess.
I’ll bookmark this comment so I can visit it later and remind myself how naive I was.
Sisu
So, I take it that the team wasn’t completely bummed out. That’s good…. I guess.
Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader
I agree with LTD about the tone today. And Gleason was standing tall out there. Over and over again, players approached him looking to say a few words. He and the Euro-line especially. Interestingly, this was mostly forwards discussing ideas, seeking input – just reading th body language. They weren’t talking anything but hockey that’s for sure.
I’m betting Gleason had some words for the team in the locker room before they came out. Just a hunch, but I think a lot of us could see it coming when he got the A when Staal went down yes?. Time for them all to channel their “inner Gleason” – I hope.
I’m headed over to the pre-game skate later – I’ll report back on the mood today as well. Legace must be so pumped to be given this opportunity after all the crap he went through (some of it self-infjicted) last season.
Opportunity knocking.
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 11, 2009 8:56 AM EST up reply actions
Those pictures made me laugh. It is amazing that the guy has the record he has being so small.
With him starting in net on Wed., it means one of two things: either they are very impressed with Legace, or very disappointed with Leights. In any case, I feel bad for Leights, but glad to see Legace in Carolina Red.
Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader
I dont understand all the poor leights stuff. like some have mentioned above the problem with “sitting” him. Last year was his first full season as a backup, and up till the coaching change he played a fair amount of backup goalie games. with the coaching change came the hot streak. No one was begging for cam to sit then? This year theres the slump, and after seeing what cams capable of, the team owed it to him and everyone on the ice the respect to play through it. Leights will get his chance. Bringing in legace only lets him know that hes gonna have to work for it, and they’re gonna start a veteran goalie thats been playing minutes in the ahl. Leights is only in his second season as a full time backup. Hes played some good games but also played some bad games. his time will come if he earns it.
If he looked great in practice Mo would be a fool not to play him. And we know Mo’s no fool. Right ? Well anyways, obviously Leighton hasn’t impressed the staff in games or practice to inspire much confidence.
But what’s to lose by playing him ? A couple more games. At this point so what? It can be settled once and for all if he can cut it. Maybe he wins a few and his trade value will go up from bag-o-pucks level. Maybe he looks worse than Manny and we go from there.
I agree with you 100% about the “poor Leights” stuff, I’m just approaching it fron the opposite direction and say let’s play him and end the soap opera one way or the other.
by drifterscape on Nov 11, 2009 12:18 AM EST up reply actions
Leighton VS Legace
How can the organization bring in another goalie and start him ahead on Leighton.It should be Leighton’s job to lose, not just give it to another goalie.If I were Leighton and i’m not I would demand to be traded and let the organization do the best they can which is not very good right now.As much as most of the player’s are making you would think they could put a little more effort into there work. But, alas time will tell, which right now is getting shorter as far as making the playoff’s go, but that is another story for another time.
robert
Cue football coach JIm Mora rant: “Playoffs. You’re talking about playoffs. I just hope we can win a game.”
by drifterscape on Nov 11, 2009 9:42 AM EST up reply actions
This reminds me
of when I transitioned from 4th grade peewee ball to 5th grade “little league”. I was the catcher on my peewee team for 3 straight years and was invited to the allstar game the last year. When I got to “little league” the new coach didn’t let me catch any games because his son was in that position (and was aweful). I never got a chance. Early in the season I asked the coach one-on-one if I would get a chance to catch a game or two and he said yes (my old coach even came out to a practice of his own volition to talk to the coach about it b/c he’d heard I wasn’t getting time behind the plate). The third to last game of the season I asked him on the bench if I could catch the second to last game (we were well out of contention for the playoffs and nothing really mattered at this point) and he said I didn’t “have enough experience.” I replied in front of the whole team “I have enough experience to know [your son] isn’t that good and I also know I’ll never get any experience catching pitches in left field.” I thought I was being a good stoic teammate by keeping my mouth shut and playing where the coach told me to. Unfortunately it took me the whole season to figure out the coach was just a douche bag.
Sorry for the long-winded post, and I know there’s a bit of a difference between the NHL and peewee ball, but I can’ imagine benching a backup as much as they’ve benched ML. They have no room to complain for him having cold legs and being jittery when they finally let him start a game once a month or stick him in goal to protect Cam’s ego when we’re getting blasted 5-0.
WTH? Since when is everyone a huge Leighton fan?
The guy isn’t some young goalie just itching for his chance to prove he can make it in the NHL. He is 28. His career stats aren’t great. He had one fantastic year for Albany, and that is about it. I feel for the guy, he is in a very tough situation, but we had no choice but to bring in someone, in this case Legace.
Do we really wanna call up one of our young goalies with the team playing like they are? No thanks.
I don’t have an issue with Legace getting signed. I have an issue with Mo immediately passing Leighton over for the start. Yeah sure Legace has had more playing time recently (which were rather poor starts in the AHL), but Mo controls how much time Leighton gets. Yeah sure Legace will have extra fire to prove himself, but so would Leights. To bring in a new guy (and despite Legace’s experience, he is a new guy to the team) and immediately put in him in the net has to be a slap in the face for Leighton who has done nothing but wait patiently for his chance.
Fair enough…..I am in the camp that Leighton isn’t an NHL goalie.
Legace is a sensible backup, Grahame/Leighton is not. Someday this organization will get a backup that they have enough confidence in to not start Ward 95% of the games.
by Iggy Reilly on Nov 11, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
I’m not a Leighton fan either – I’m just saying the coaches brought their present situation upon themselves. I agree he has marginal skills and Legace makes a better No2 goalie.
Because, while they thought they werer putting C.Ward into a situation where he could succeed, they were actually putting ML into a situation where he could fail.
In fairness, we could have Ryan Miller as our backup and if Cam was the number 1 goalie, MO would still be sitting Miller. The guy rides his horses hard………
by wylde4canes on Nov 11, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
my .02
Why all the fuss about one game? Manny’s been active. Leighten…not much! If Manny
does well, good deal!!! play him again, if not, then switch!!! Case closed
I think the fuss is that part of being a good coach (or any leader) is correctly handling a player/players psyche. In order to get the most out of your people, you have to have them believe they are capable of achieving something special. Immediately going out and acquiring Legace and benching Leighton says, I don’t believe you are capable. It can ruin a guys career. Grahame is a perfect example. He was a good goalie who went through a bad spot in Tampa. Torts roasted him alive in the media and ruined the guy for life. Personal feelings on the man aside, he was a solid if unspectacular #1 goalie, and the way Torts dealt with his psyche resulted in him being a crappy backup. That is a big fall.
What does this do to Leighton? How does this effect the locker room? Leighton is a liked guy, this is a legit concern. If Mo looses the room, we are effed next season too. This man is our coach through at least December of next year, regardless of what happens. It’s not all about x’s and O’s, otherwise a guy like Ted Nolan would have never been a pro coach.
+1 first paragraph.
But I’m not so sure the team has all that much confidence in him regardless of whether he’s well liked.
by drifterscape on Nov 11, 2009 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
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