COLUMBUS, Ohio — On a slow NHL trade-deadline day for the Columbus Blue Jackets, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen dealt seldom-used defenceman Jordan Leopold for a younger blue-liner and a draft pick and also signed forward Cam Atkinson to a three-year deal.
Atkinson’s agent, George Bazos at Edge Sports Management, confirmed Monday his client had signed a new contract worth $2.5 million next year, $3.5 million in 2016-17 and $4.5 million in 2017-18.
Atkinson, 25, has 13 goals and 12 assists in 58 games this season, including three power-play and five game-winning goals. In 199 NHL games, all with Columbus, he has 50 goals and 47 assists.
Earlier in the day, the Blue Jackets united a family by sending Leopold home.
Leopold went to his home state Minnesota Wild for defenceman Justin Falk and a fifth-round pick in the 2015 draft.
The 34-year-old Leopold, an unrestricted free agent this summer, has been separated from his family since he was acquired on Nov. 15 from the St. Louis Blues for a fifth-round pick in 2016.
His 10-year-old daughter Jordyn sent a plaintive letter to the Wild’s coaches asking that they help swing a deal to bring her father home.
Leopold has played 13 years in the NHL for Calgary, Colorado, Florida, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, St. Louis and Columbus.
Falk, 26, who requested a trade, is a restricted free agent this summer. He was scoreless in 13 games with the Wild this season and has a goal and 16 assists in 142 NHL games. He was a fourth-round pick in the 2007 draft by Minnesota.
