After two years of Ilya Bryzgalov manning the crease for the Flyers, the organization was desperately looking for a chance of pace. The Flyers opted to take a chance on a struggling young goalie named Steve Mason. Little did anyone know he would be one of the best goalies to ever step foot in Philly, putting up numbers among the Flyers elite.
The trade that brought Steve Mason to Philadelphia from Columbus was Michael Leighton and a 2015 third round pick for Steve Mason.
Michael Leighton was drafted 165th overall in 1999 by the Chicago Blackhawks
He was traded to Buffalo on October 4, 2005 for Milan Bartovic.
Leighton was signed as a free agent by the Anaheim Ducks on July 13, 2006.
Leighton was claimed on waivers three separate times through the 2006-07 season. First by Nashville on November 27, 2006, then by Philadelphia on January 1, 2007, and again by Montreal on February 27, 2007.
Leighton was traded from Montreal to Carolina for Carolina’s 2007 seventh round pick (Scott Kishel) on 6/23/07.
He was later claimed on waiver by the Flyers for the second time in his career on December 15, 2009.
Leighton was traded from Philadelphia to Columbus along with a 2015 third round pick (Martins Dzierkais) for Steve Mason on April 3, 2013.
Steve Mason was floundering in Columbus after winning the Calder Trophy in 2009. He was picked up as a low-risk option for the Flyers who were looking to replace Ilya Bryzgalov. Mason did just that, playing 231 games as a Flyer, he posted a 2.47 GAA and a .918 SV%. Love him or hate him, it’s hard to underestimate how big of a role Mason played during his tenure in Philly.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: NHL.com
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