ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed goaltender Michael Leighton to a one-year contract. Per club policy, no financial terms of the deal were disclosed.

Leighton, 25 (5/19/81), played 40 games with Rochester of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2005-2006. He posted a record of 15-22-1, with a 3.21 goals-against-average (GAA) and .887 save percentage (SV%). A native of Petrolia, Ontario, Leighton has appeared in 43 career NHL games (all with Chicago), earning an 8-21-10 record and a 2.96 GAA.

The 6-3, 186-pound netminder earned a 27-16-8 record, with a .920 SV% and 2.14 GAA for Norfolk of the AHL in 2001-2002. He was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team following the season for his efforts.

Leighton was originally drafted by the Blackhawks in the sixth round (165^{th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.}