Goaltender Michael Leighton is returning to the Carolina Hurricanes, signing a one-year, two-way contract on Wednesday.
Leighton, 35, played parts of three seasons with the Canes from 2007 to 2009 and had an 8-12-2 record with a 3.20 goals-against average in 29 games.
Leighton is coming off an outstanding season for the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks American Hockey League affiliate. He had a 28-8-8 record, 2.44 GAA and .918 save percentage.
"Michael is a veteran player who gives our organization reliable depth in goal," Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis said in a statement. "He is a true professional who also will serve as a valuable mentor for the young goaltenders in our system."
Leighton became the AHL's all-time shutouts leader, breaking Hockey Hall of Famer Johnny Bower's AHL record with his 46th career AHL shutout against Lake Erie on March 5. He became the 13th goaltender in AHL history to earn 200 wins in a 5-2 win at Iowa on Nov. 13 and helped the Central Division win the 2016 AHL All-Star Challenge, his fourth career AHL All-Star appearance.
Leighton received the AHL's 2015-16 President's Award for his outstanding accomplishments during the season. He played in one game for the Blackhawks in 2015-16.
Leighton played in 14 of the Philadelphia Flyers' 23 playoff games in 2010 and had an 8-3 postseason record. The Flyers fell in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final to Chicago.
