 On November 16, 2018, he continued his professional career after signing a professional try-out (PTO) contract with the injury-hit Ontario Reign of the AHL, the top affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings.He appeared in three games with the Reign before he was released from his PTO and later signed to another AHL try-out contract with the Utica Comets on January 15, 2019.After collecting six wins in his first seven starts for the Comets, Leighton agreed to a one-year, two-way contract with NHL affiliate, the Vancouver Canucks, for the remainder of the season on February 19, 2019.