Music: {allcanada} Flames sign goaltender Irving

Friday, July 27, 2012

{allcanada} Flames sign goaltender Irving

The Calgary Flames announced Friday they have signed goaltender Leland Irving to a one-year, two-way contract.

It is worth $687,500 at the NHL level or $207,500 at the AHL level.

Irving played seven NHL games last season and registered his first career win on Dec. 23 in a 3-1 victory at Vancouver. He had a .912 save percentage and a 3.20 goals against average with a 1-3-3 record.

"Leland made some great strides last season in attempting to establish himself as being ready to carry the load as the backup goaltender in Calgary," Flames general manager Jay Feaster said in a statement. "At the same time, in order for us to have the success we want as a team, it will be necessary for our backup goalie not merely to start 20-plus games but also to win more than half those starts. We are pleased to have Leland under contract for the upcoming season and look forward to what should be a hard-fought and spirited battle in training camp between Leland and Henrik Karlsson."

Miikka Kiprusoff is the Flames starting goaltender.

Irving, 24, was a first-round pick (No. 26) by Calgary in the 2006 NHL Draft. He was 30-24-2 for the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League in 2010-11.