Chicago Blackhawks: Michael Leighton Days Until Banner Raising
By Keith Schultz
We had so much fun doing our Countdown to Faceoff series last season that we decided to do it again. In case you’re new to the series, we’ll do a roster preview as we count down the days until the Chicago Blackhawks raise their 6th Stanley Cup Banner on October 7th season opener against the New York Rangers.
We have officially reached the 2nd half of the countdown to opening night and we are starting out our talk about a player that is in the minors this season, a player that Patrick Kane beat in 2010 in overtime of Game #6 of the Stanley Cup Final, a player who’s career started in Chicago, a player that holds an obscure franchise record, and that players name is Michael Leighton.
Michael Leighton became a Chicago Blackhawk in 2004 and became the first goalie and only one in franchise history to have a shutout in his first appearance which was a scoreless 0-0 tie against the Phoenix Coyotes. Leighton’s career mark with the Blackhawks weren’t impressive and he moved on shortly after. Here are is career stats in Chicago.
Michael Leighton-2004 (1999 Blackhawks draft pick 165th overall)
Games-42
Wins-8
Losses-21
OTL-10
Of course Leighton’s biggest highlight in most Chicago Blackhawks fans eyes is the fact that
Patrick Kane‘s goal that most people didn’t see beat Leighton in 2010 for the Blackhawks first Cup since 1961.
Now as most people know Leighton is in Rockford, and last year he helped guide the Blackhawks youngsters to their first playoff spot in years and helping young goalies like Scott Darling build their craft.
There has been a few other players that have worn #49 so here’s a quick snapshot of those players in franchise history.
Jimmy Waite-1995
Waite wore four different numbers while playing with the Blackhawks and was the player the Hawks decided to keep as a backup instead of Dominik Hasek, but today he is the new Blackhawks goal-tending coach which let’s be honest we all hope he’s better at than his actual goal-tending. Waite got to hoist the Stanley Cup in first season as goalie coach for the Blackhawks which made his career come full circle with the Blackhawks.
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Aaron Downey-2001
Downey wore 49 for 39 games scored once but collected 82 penalty minutes. He also wore 44 during his stay.
Shawn Thornton 2003- Thornton is a tough guy in a league that is trying to get away from tough guys his stat line isn’t great, but he’s still loved in whatever city he ends up in.
Carl Corazzini-2007
Corazzini played in 7 games picked up one assist and I totally don’t remember him at all.
Jake Dowell-2008-2009
Games-102
Goals-9
Assists-17
+8
Penalty Minutes-80
Playoffs-2 Games
There you have it! 49 days until opening night I can’t wait!
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