Jordan Douglas Leopold (born August 3, 1980) is an
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
former professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice ...
defenseman
Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the latter a reference ...
. He was drafted in the second round, 44th overall, by the
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Mighty may refer to:
* ''Mighty'' (The Planet Smashers album)
* ''Mighty'' (Kristene DiMarco album)
* ''The Mighty'' (1929 film), a 1929 American action film
*'' The Mighty'', a 1998 comedy-drama film
* ''The Mighty'' (comics), a DC Comics title
* ...
in
1999
File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shoot ...
, though never making an appearance with the team. In his NHL career, Leopold played for the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, and are the third major professional ice hockey te ...
,
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (N ...
,
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, and initially played their home g ...
,
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...
,
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, alon ...
,
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the ...
,
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ...
and
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and play their home games at the Xcel Ener ...
.
Playing career
Junior/Collegiate
Prior to joining the NHL, Leopold played for the Armstrong Falcons of
Plymouth, Minnesota
Plymouth is a city in Hennepin County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. A suburb in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, the city is about west of downtown Minneapolis.The population was 81,026 at the 2020 census, making it Minnesota' ...
, and went on to play collegiate hockey with the
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. ...
from 1998 until 2002, where he helped the Golden Gophers win an NCAA national championship despite pressure to leave the University early to play in the NHL. After his first year with Minnesota, scoring 23 points, Leopold was drafted in the
1999 NHL Entry Draft in the second round, 44th overall, by the
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Mighty may refer to:
* ''Mighty'' (The Planet Smashers album)
* ''Mighty'' (Kristene DiMarco album)
* ''The Mighty'' (1929 film), a 1929 American action film
*'' The Mighty'', a 1998 comedy-drama film
* ''The Mighty'' (comics), a DC Comics title
* ...
as a prospective offensive
defenseman
Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the latter a reference ...
. After completing his sophomore season with the Golden Gophers, Leopold became the property of the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, and are the third major professional ice hockey te ...
, traded by the Mighty Ducks in exchange for
Andrei Nazarov
Andrei Viktorovich Nazarov (russian: Андрей Викторович Назаров; born May 22, 1974) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player and head coach of HC Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He has formerly manag ...
and a second-round draft pick. In 2001–02, his final season with the University of Minnesota, he won the
Hobey Baker Award
The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player. It has been awarded 41 times. It is named for Hall of Famer Hobey Baker, who played college hockey at Princeton Univer ...
for being the season's outstanding player in college hockey. He also played for the US in the
World Championships
A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...
that year.
Professional
Leopold started his professional career in the NHL in
2002
File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains East Timor independence, indepe ...
. He played 58 games for the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, and are the third major professional ice hockey te ...
and scored four goals and 14 points. In his second season, Leopold would play in all 82 regular season games, scoring 33 points as well as contributing to the Flames' playoff run to the
2004 Stanley Cup Final
The 2004 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2003–04 season, and the culmination of the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Western C ...
, play which earned him a spot in the defense of the
American national team for the
2005 World Championships as well as for the
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially the XX Olympic Winter Games ( it, XX Giochi olimpici invernali) and also known as Torino 2006, were a winter multi-sport event held from 10 to 26 February 2006 in Turin, Italy. This marked the second ...
.
After one more season with the Flames, Leopold was traded to the
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (N ...
at the
2006 NHL Entry Draft. Leopold's first season with the Avalanche, in
2006–07, was all but wiped out due to injury. Having missed the first 25 games of the season recovering from
hernia
A hernia is the abnormal exit of tissue or an organ, such as the bowel, through the wall of the cavity in which it normally resides. Various types of hernias can occur, most commonly involving the abdomen, and specifically the groin. Groin her ...
surgery, he then suffered a groin injury on December 11, 2006, ruling him out for another 17 games. Just a month later, Leopold was injured again, fracturing his wrist on February 17, 2007, effectively missing the rest of the season, and playing in just 15 games. At season's end, Leopold was re-signed by the Avalanche to a two-year contract on May 22, 2007.
In the
2007–08 season, Leopold was again struck down by another injury-plagued season. Throughout the course of the season, he missed 35 games with a hip ailment, lacerated leg and
pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severit ...
. He also suffered a concussion when he was hit high by
Steve Ott
''yes'Steve is a masculine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Steven or Stephen
Notable people with the name include:
steve jops
* Steve Abbott (disambiguation), several people
* Steve Adams (disambiguation), several people
* Steve ...
on March 9, 2008. Ott was subsequently suspended for three games.
Leopold recovered to full health in time for the
2008–09 season. He played in every game with the Avalanche until the
NHL trade deadline
In professional sports within the United States and Canada, a trade is a sports league transaction between sports clubs involving the exchange of player rights from one team to another. Though player rights are the primary trading assets, dra ...
, when he was traded back to the Calgary Flames for
Lawrence Nycholat, prospect
Ryan Wilson and a second-round draft pick. Leopold then played all 19 games for the Flames, becoming the first Flames player to play 83 games of an 82-game season, a feat that
Ian White would repeat in 2010.
On June 27, 2009, as an impending free agent, Leopold's negotiation rights were traded by the Flames to the
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, and initially played their home g ...
, for the negotiation rights of
Jay Bouwmeester
Jay Daniel Bouwmeester (born September 27, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played seventeen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues. He was a fir ...
, at the
2009 NHL Entry Draft
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the 47th Entry Draft. It was held on June 26–27, 2009, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The Draft was part of the Montreal Canadiens' centennial celebrations. National Hockey League teams took turns select ...
. After testing free-agency, Leopold signed a one-year contract with the Panthers on July 2, 2009.
In the
2009–10 season, Leopold scored seven goals and 18 points in 61 games with the Panthers. On March 1, 2010, he was then traded to the
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...
for a second-round draft pick in the
2010 NHL Entry Draft. On April 16, 2010, in Game 2 of a playoff series between the Penguins and the
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member ...
, Leopold's series was ended by a devastating hit from Senators defenseman
Andy Sutton
Andrew Cameron Sutton (born March 10, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Atlanta Thrashers, New ...
. Leopold, who had a history of concussion injuries, remained unconscious on the ice for several minutes. Leopold later returned to the Pens' lineup for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semi-final matchup against the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...
.
On July 1, 2010, Leopold left the Penguins as a free agent and signed a three-year contract with the
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, alon ...
.
In the final year of his contract with the Sabres, during the
lockout-shortened
2012–13 season, he was traded to the
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the ...
in exchange for a second-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick in the
2013 NHL Entry Draft on March 30, 2013.
In the
2014–15 season, with limited playing time in St. Louis, on November 15, 2014, Leopold was traded from the Blues to the
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ...
in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in
2016
File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses duri ...
.
Leopold played 18 games with the Blue Jackets, registering one goal and two assists, before he joined his third team in the year when he was dealt to the
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and play their home games at the Xcel Ener ...
in exchange for
Justin Falk
Justin Falk (born October 11, 1988) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He last played with the Belleville Senators in the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his National Hockey League debut in the 2009–10 season with ...
and a fifth-round pick in
2015
File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the April ...
on March 2, 2015.
Personal life
Leopold and his wife Jamie have three daughters and a son. Leopold's trade to the Minnesota Wild, marking a return to his home state, gained the attention of media outlets after it was revealed that one of his daughters wrote a letter to the Minnesota Wild coaching staff asking for them to trade for Jordan to be closer to family.
He now owns and runs a wedding venue, Leopold's Mississippi Gardens, in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
Awards and honors
Transactions
* September 26, 2000 – traded to Calgary by the
Anaheim Mighty Ducks for
Andrei Nazarov
Andrei Viktorovich Nazarov (russian: Андрей Викторович Назаров; born May 22, 1974) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player and head coach of HC Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He has formerly manag ...
and Calgary's second-round choice (later traded to Phoenix later traded back to Calgary Calgary selected
Andrei Taratukhin
Andrei Sergeevich Taratukhin (born February 22, 1983) is a Russian professional ice hockey centre and he is currently playing for HSC Csíkszereda in the Erste Liga.
Taratukhin was drafted 41st overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2001 NHL E ...
) in 2001 Entry Draft.
* June 24, 2006 – traded to
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (N ...
by Calgary with Calgary's second-round choice (Codey Burki) in 2006 Entry Draft and Calgary's second-round choice (Trevor Cann) in 2007 Entry Draft for
Alex Tanguay
Alex Joseph Jean Tanguay (born November 21, 1979) is currently an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League and is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played for the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary ...
.
* March 4, 2009 – traded to Calgary Flames by Colorado for
Lawrence Nycholat, prospect
Ryan Wilson and Montreal's second-round choice (
Stefan Elliott) in the 2009 Entry Draft.
* June 27, 2009 – rights traded to
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, and initially played their home g ...
by Calgary with Phoenix's third-round choice (Josh Birkholz) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft for rights to
Jay Bouwmeester
Jay Daniel Bouwmeester (born September 27, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played seventeen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues. He was a fir ...
.
* March 1, 2010 – traded to
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...
by Florida for Pittsburgh's second-round choice (
Connor Brickley
Connor Brickley (born February 25, 1992) is an American former professional hockey center, who played with the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 50th overall, by ...
) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
* March 30, 2013 – traded to
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the ...
by Buffalo for St. Louis' second-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
* November 15, 2014 – traded from the Blues to the
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ...
in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
* March 2, 2015 - traded to
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and play their home games at the Xcel Ener ...
by Columbus for
Justin Falk
Justin Falk (born October 11, 1988) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He last played with the Belleville Senators in the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his National Hockey League debut in the 2009–10 season with ...
and a fifth-round draft pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
References
External links
*
Jordan Leopold's U.S. Olympic Team bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leopold, Jordan
1980 births
Living people
American men's ice hockey defensemen
Anaheim Ducks draft picks
Buffalo Sabres players
Calgary Flames players
Colorado Avalanche players
Columbus Blue Jackets players
Florida Panthers players
Hobey Baker Award winners
Ice hockey players from Minnesota
Ice hockey players at the 2006 Winter Olympics
Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey players
Minnesota Wild players
Olympic ice hockey players of the United States
People from Golden Valley, Minnesota
Pittsburgh Penguins players
St. Louis Blues players
Big Ten Athlete of the Year winners
AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans
NCAA men's ice hockey national champions