Chicago Blackhawks’ 10 Best Moments Of 2016 Calendar Year

By Colin Likas

Dec 28, 2016

Dec 17, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Artemi Panarin (72) is congratulated by right wing Patrick Kane (88) after scoring a empty net goal against the St. Louis Blues during the third period at Scottrade Center. The Blackhawks won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

3 of 11

No. 9: Michael Leighton Sets A Record

Chicago’s minor league affiliate in the AHL, the Rockford IceHogs, is often overlooked unless someone on the Blackhawks’ roster is injured. But we should give these guys a fair shake when they do something good. After all, the AHL is the last step before the NHL. It’s high-quality hockey.

Now-former IceHogs goaltender Michael Leighton achieved a nice personal milestone on March 5 of this year, recording his 46th regular-season shutout in the AHL. That made him the sole holder of the league’s all-time shutouts record.

Leighton almost won a Stanley Cup with the Philadelphia Flyers (against the Chicago Blackhawks) in 2010 and has spent time in and out of the NHL since the 2002-03 season, but the now-Carolina Hurricanes netminder certainly had to be proud of etching his name in pro hockey history, and Blackhawks fans should be proud of him for it.