US EditionRed Wings Hire Longtime Pro, AHL Hall of Famer as Goaltending Coach
DETROIT, MICHIGAN, JUL 7 – Michael Leighton brings extensive NHL and AHL experience to Detroit as he replaces Alex Westlund, joining Todd McLellan's staff ahead of the 2025-26 season.
- Michael Leighton, a 44-year-old former NHL goalie, was hired on July 7, 2025, as the Detroit Red Wings' goaltending coach.
- Leighton concluded an 18-year professional playing career spanning from 2001 to 2019 after being chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks as the 165th overall pick in the 1999 NHL Draft.
- He played 110 NHL games with a 37-43-14 record, four shutouts, and a 2.98 goals-against average, then coached the Windsor Spitfires for three seasons.
- Leighton holds the AHL record with 50 shutouts in 507 games, a 250-186-55 record, and was named to the AHL Hall of Fame in 2024.
- Leighton's hiring replaces Alex Westlund and joins head coach Todd McLellan’s staff during McLellan's first full Detroit season.
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Red Wings hire ex-River Rats, Phantoms goalie Leighton as goaltending coach
DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced that the team has hired Michael Leighton as Goaltending Coach. Leighton, 44, joins the organization after spending parts of three seasons as Goaltending Coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires from 2021-24. During his tenure with the Spitfires, Leighton helped the team win back-to-back Western Conference regular-season titles in 2021-2…
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Leaning Left1Leaning Right4Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Right
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources lean Right
57% Right
14%
C 29%
R 57%
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