LEOPOLD BACK IN CALGARY
The Calgary Flames acquired defenseman Jordan Leopold from the Colorado Avalanche for defensemen Lawrence Nycholat and Ryan Wilson and a second-round draft pick in 2009.
What does it give the Calgary Flames
Leopold is a solid offensive defenseman who broke into the NHL with the Flames back in 2002-03 (where he scored a career-high 33 points in 82 games in 2003-04). Since then his game has struggled somewhat at both ends of the ice because of injuries, but at 28 he may actually still have some upside. At the very least he should provide the Flames with a little depth on the power play and in their top six rearguard rotation, and his relatively affordable contract expires at the end of this season. Was outstanding alongside Robyn Regehr during his first stint in Calgary.
What does it give the Colorado Avalanche
The second-rounder is obviously the big piece here for the Avs, and alone it's a nice return for Leopold, who has struggled this season. In Nycholat the Avs are getting back a defenseman who, like Leopold, will have his contract expire at the end of this season. That said, he will be less expensive the rest of the way than Leopold would have been, and while currently on IR with a groin injury, he still has intriguing offensive upside for a player who is 29. Wilson is a still-young defenseman prospect but is nevertheless a bit of a late bloomer. He emerged this season as one of the Quad City (AHL) Flames' best all-round blueliners, with 20 points and 56 penalty minutes in 60 games.
Fantasy impact
