ST. PAUL, Minn. -- New Minnesota Wild defenseman Jordan Leopold has had an emotional 24 hours. It will be capped off Tuesday when Leopold makes his debut with his hometown Wild against the Ottawa Senators at Xcel Energy Center.
"This is up there. This is home to me and this is pretty special," Leopold said. "I got the phone call [Monday] from [Columbus Blue Jackets general manager] Jarmo [Kekalainen] and didn't know what to make of it. I've always dreamed of it and knew it was possible, but the fact that it becomes reality tonight is something special."
Leopold met his family at the airport Monday night, where he said he had an emotional reunion with his wife Jamie and four children.
His oldest daughter Jordyn, who turns 11 next month, has become a national sensation for the letter she wrote to Minnesota Wild coaches in January, asking them to trade for her father so he could come home.