Panthers Sign Defensemen Leopold & Wilson to Contracts

The Florida Panthers continued to retool their defense on Thursday by signing defenseman Jordan Leopold to a one-year contract worth $1.75 million and defenseman Clay Wilson to a two-year contract. The terms of Wilson’s deal were not disclosed. The Panthers acquired Leopold on June 27 in a trade with the Calgary Flames in exchange for the negotiating rights to star defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. Leopold was traded to the Calgary Flames at the March 2009 traded deadline by the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defensemen Lawrence Nycholat and Ryan Wilson and a second round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft. In 83 games last season with the Avalanche and Flames, Leopold scored seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points. In 355 career games with the Flames and Avalanche, he has 29 goals and 80 assists for 109 points. Wilson started last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets but was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in January for Jason Williams. In seven games last season with the Thrashers and Blue Jackets, he scored one assist. Wilson split the rest of the season with Chicago and Syracuse of the AHL, appearing in 70 total games, scoring 14 goals and 31 assists for 45 points.

These are okay signings for the Panthers, who are in the process of rebuilding their blueline after the departure of Bouwmeester. Leopold brings lots of defensive depth to the Panthers and plenty of skill to their power play and penalty kill. The Panthers were wise to sign him to a one-year contract, as Leopold has a bit of an injury history. Wilson was likely a depth signing for the Panthers, as he is not quite ready to crack the NHL full time. He definitely has the skills to be a top-six defenseman in the league as long as teams give him the chance.