Meet your newest Panthers: Jordan Leopold, D

Jordan Leopold

#0 / Defenseman / Florida Panthers

Height: 6-1

Weight: 200

Born: Aug 03, 1980

 Jordan Leopold, 28 years old. United States. Shoots: Left.

Drafted by Anaheim: 2nd round, 44th overall, 1999. Acquired by Florida in trade with Calgary, June 2009. Re-signed by Florida, July 2009.

 

Career notes: WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, 2001 & 2002. WCHA First All Star team, 2001 & 2002. NCAA Hobey Baker winner (top NCAA men's hockey player), 2002. NHL YoungStars designee, 2003.

 

International participation: (2) World Junior Championships, (4) World Championships, (1) Winter Olympics.

Full career stats at HockeyDatabase

David from Colorado Rockies Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey (Leopold played the bulk of the past three seasons in Denver):

When the Avalanche traded Alex Tanguay to the Flames for Jordan Leopold and a couple of picks, there was a lot of talk that perhaps Leopold had the talent to be a top pairing defenseman. Because, if not, why would you trade away Tanguay?

As it turns out, he's not a top pairing guy, but he's still a good guy to have on your team, especially for $1.75 million. He's not really going to throw the body around too much, although he will block his share of shots. He's more of a guy who's going to get to the puck and get it out of the zone. In the Avalanche system defensemen do not get to help out much offensively, so Leopold should be able to contribute a little more in that area under a more reasonable coaching staff.

Leopold was given the nickname "Leoprone" for his amazing propensity for injury during his first two years with us. That was more due to bad luck than anything else, however, and Leopold actually had the last laugh by playing in 83 regular season games last year (somewhere, Ross Lonsberry is smiling).

For whatever reason, Leopold has started the last two seasons by playing awful, awful hockey for the first couple of weeks - turnovers, sloppy play, bad decisions...the whole enchilada. Both times he was able to shake off the start and settle down into some steady and consistent play. Probably nothing, but it's worth keeping an eye out for.

Many thanks, MHH.