Michael Leighton placed on IR with UBI, Brian Boucher recalled

[1908_Cubs]

BOUCHER RECALLED; LEIGHTON TO IR
The Flyers announced that they have recalled goaltender Brian Boucher from their AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms.

With the recall, the Flyers also announced that they have placed (G) Michael Leighton on injured reserve with an upper body injury.

Boucher is traveling with the team today on their trip to Toronto and Winnipeg as they face the Maple Leafs and Jets in back-to-back nights on Monday and Tuesday respectively. He will wear uniform No. 33.

He has appeared in six games with the Phantoms this season, posting a 2-4-0-0 record and a 2.71 GAA and .908 save percentage.

Leighton appeared in one game with the Flyers so far this season, taking a 5-1 loss at Tampa Bay on Jan. 27.

Boucher was acquired by the Flyers on the first day of this year's training camp, Jan. 13, from the Carolina Hurricanes along with unsigned collegiate defenseman Mike Alt from U. of Minnesota, for Flyers prospect Luke Pither.

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=64095
Well....that was quick.

[Ace23]

We can only hope this is the end of the road for dear old Leighton. Perhaps this will inspire Homer to pick up a real backup net minder, since Boucher hasn't exactly been stellar in the AHL, either.

[phillyeaglesman]

We can only hope this is the end of the road for dear old Leighton. Perhaps this will inspire Homer to pick up a real backup net minder, since Boucher hasn't exactly been stellar in the AHL, either.

umm......for what reason??

i mean i'm not saying that the backup goalie position isn't an issue for this team. however, i think they'd be wise to spend that money elsewhere. they have more pressing needs at the moment, given how well Bryz has played thus far.

[fanofphilly]

Bouch will be fine....he's always done well at Wells Fargo. I don't think he is a starting goalie anymore. Well frankly, I don't think he was ever a starting goalie but in a backup role he will be fine.

Regardless, the growing need of a backup goalie for next year is more then noticeable.

[Ace23]

umm......for what reason??

i mean i'm not saying that the backup goalie position isn't an issue for this team. however, i think they'd be wise to spend that money elsewhere. they have more pressing needs at the moment, given how well Bryz has played thus far.

Because acquiring a backup netminder is fairly cheap no matter who we go with ($700k to $1.2M), and if these first 12 games have proven anything, it's that we need Bryz to be at his best for this team to have any chance in the playoffs. We can't play Bryz 44 of 48 games and then expect him to perform in the playoffs as well. Real backup that can get us points in games that Bryz doesn't play = great investment in both this team and in Bryz's continued success. I can't think of how we could spend an extra $200k better than that.

[Randall Stevens]

I thought and hoped they would of signed Al Montoya during the summer, but no. With Montoya's 600k cap hit (WHICH IS 300K LESS THEN LEIGHTON!) it would have been a financial and performance upgrade over Boosh and Leighton