Jordan Leopold Traded to Calgary

It's not a surprise to see the Colorado Avalanche trade defenseman Jordan Leopold, seeing as how they're in last place in the Western Conference and Leopold is set to become an unrestricted free agent. It is a surprise, however, to see him go for what seems to be so little.

According to TSN, Leopold has been traded to the Calgary Flames for a second round pick, Ryan Wilson, and Lawrence Nycholat. Nycholat, by the way, was just claimed on waivers by the Flames on Tuesday.

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Leopold, 28, is playing in his sixth NHL season and has six goals and 14 assists in 20 games this season. This is going to be his second stint with the Flames, having spent the first three years of his career in Calgary. During the 2006 draft, Leopold was traded to Colorado, along with a second-round pick, in exchange for forward Alex Tanguay.

Nycholat, 29, is the definition of a journeymen having played for the Rangers, Capitals, Senators and Canucks in his brief NHL career. He has two goals and seven assists in 45 career games.

Wilson signed with the Flames as an undrafted free agent in January, 2008, and is a long way from ever contributing in the NHL, if he ever does.

On the surface, this seems like a rather uninspiring return for a solid player like Leopold, and an absolute steal for the Flames.