ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Wild has bolstered both its defense and its scoring potential for what promises to be a down-to-the-wire playoff run.
TSN reports that the team swung a deal with Columbus to acquire Twin Cities native Jordan Leopold. The 34-year-old Leopold has scored one goal and two assists in 25 combined games with the Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues this season.
A short time later came word that the Wild also added Buffalo right wing Chris Stewart, swapping a 2017 2nd round pick for the power forward.
Leopold has scored 67 goals and 146 assists in 677 career games with the Blue Jackets, Blues, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. He is currently in the second year of a two-year deal he signed prior to the 2013-14 season worth an average of $2.25 million per year, and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Sources say the Wild gave up young defenseman Justin Falk and a 2015 5th round draft choice in order to secure Leopold's services.
Injuries have been a problem on the Wild blue line. Veteran Keith Ballard is out for the season after suffering a catastrophic head injury, and youngsters Jared Spurgeon and Marco Scandella are currently out for the short term.
Adding a bit of intrigue to the trade is a handwritten letter that was reportedly penned by Leopold's 11-year-old daughter Jordyn to the coaching staff of the Minnesota Wild. In it, Jordyn says her dad is lonely in Columbus, her family is lonely in Minnesota, and she "can not take it anymore."
