Michael_leighton

For the first time in a while, the Flyers' goaltending situation is in a good spot.  With BOB off to a hot start and Bouche serving as an adequate backup, there is no need to make any changes in net right now. But Michael Leighton, who has spent the last week rehabbing with the Adirondack Phantoms, is set to come off the long-term injured reserved list.  

The NHL's LTIR rules stipulate that a player can spend no more than three games or six days on a conditioning assignment.  However, Holmgren was granted his request for a two-game extension to give Leighton more work, and he's not to opposed carrying three goalies when he returns to the team on Sunday:

“Well, it’s a nice problem to have.  With the way it all played out for Sergei, he got opportunities and he obviously seized the opportunities.  That’s good for him.  And now we’re in a situation where it looks like we’re going to carry three goalies, at least for the foreseeable future, and that’s, you know, it’s not ideal but it is what it is. These guys are pros and they just have to deal with it.  We certainly have no intention of sending Sergei down right now because we can, he doesn’t need waivers or anything.  We’re not thinking like that.”

 

That's going to make for a very comfortable situation.  Bouche knows he's a backup, and he serves that role well playing behind BOB.  Leighton, who thinks he's a big time goalie, thanks to the Flyers' Stanley Cup Run, will want an opportunity to start when he comes back.  That's not going to go over well with anyone.  Leighton has the lateral movement of a bear in water, and it's pretty clear BOB is the better of the two goalies.  

Whatever the decision is, the Flyers have until next Sunday, at the latest, to make a decision.  Awkward.