Leighton not sure where he fits in Flyers' crowded crease

VOORHEES, N.J.  A year ago, Michael Leighton was exactly where he wanted to be in life.

For the first time in his well-traveled career, he had the security of a one-way, two-year guaranteed contract worth $1.55 million a season and assurances he would start the 2010-11 season as the Flyers' No. 1 goaltender.

"After signing that deal," Leighton said, "I definitely didn't expect to be having to fight my way back again."

Today, Leighton spends his mornings at the Skate Zone in Voorhees trying to work his way back onto a team that clearly has no room for him.

Having signed 31-year-old Russian Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year, $51 million contract, the Flyers have found the No. 1 goaltender they have sought since Ron Hextall's prime.

The rest of the goaltending puzzle is far more unsettled. Sergei Bobrovsky, 22, is entering the second year of a contract that pays him $1.75 million this season, which would make him the second highest-paid backup in the NHL.

The Flyers also signed 28-year-old American Hockey League veteran Jason Bacashihua to a one-year contract and anticipate him winning the job as the Adirondack Phantoms' No. 1 goalie. And then there's 6-foot-7 prospect Niko Hovinen, who signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Flyers last May and is slated to play in Finland this season.

So where does that leave the 30-year-old Leighton, who has played for four different teams the past two seasons?

"It's August," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "I don't have to answer that. Training camp is a process you go through, and we're going to do what's right for the organization."

Holmgren reportedly gauged Bobrovsky's trade value before the NHL draft in June and, judging from the first- and second-round picks the Washington Capitals received from the Colorado Avalanche for Semyon Varlamov, his value should be high.

But as Leighton learned last year, the value of an NHL goaltender can drop quicker than the Dow Jones.

Leighton injured his back while lifting weights last summer and required back surgery that forced him to miss the first three months of the season. He returned and played well for a bad Adirondack Phantoms team, going 14-12-3 with a 2.22 goals-against average and .926 save percentage.

In what became a bizarre postseason of goaltender roulette, Leighton served as a backup to Brian Boucher in the second game of the playoffs and was a surprise starter in Game 6 of the Flyers' seven-game victory against the Buffalo Sabres, getting yanked after allowing three first-period goals.

After the Flyers' four-game elimination by the Bruins, it was revealed Leighton needed surgery to repair his left hip. In his postseason meeting with Holmgren, Leighton was told to come to training camp in shape and "prove you can do the job."

Even then, Leighton saw the writing on the wall.

"They had been talking about getting somebody else," Leighton said. "I wasn't surprised they went after Bryz. It was surprising to see Carts (Jeff Carter) and Richie (Mike Richards) go, but that's hockey. I'm a prime example that you never know where you're going to be and who you'll play for."

Leighton said he continues to do rehab on his hip by swimming and walking sideways in a pool and believes his injury woes are behind him. He just isn't sure what lies ahead.

"Last year was disappointing, frustrating — there are lots of words for it," he said. "It was definitely a setback for me, but now I'm kind of back where I started. I don't know what's going to happen here. There are quite a few goalies.

"If there's a trade somewhere or there's going to be two veteran guys (Leighton and Bacashihua) in the minors, I don't know. I just want to come to camp, work hard, and wherever it gets me I'll accept it.

"I don't think it's worth asking for (a trade). I'm sure (Holmgren) has an idea, but he's not going to tell me where I'll be. I just need to get healthy and hope it works out that I get to stay here, play another year and go from there."