In the cutest request ever made, Jordyn Leopold, the 11-year-old daughter of new Minnesota Wild defenseman Jordan Leopold, may have orchestrated a trade to get her daddy home.
Her father, a native of Golden Valley and a Gopher hockey legend, was away from his little girl and family playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets. In an effort to be closer to her dad, Jordyn wrote a letter to Wild coaches, asking them to find a way to bring her dad back home.
A copy of the letter was sent to KFAN’s Paul Allen on Monday morning, just hours before Jordyn’s wish came true. The Wild traded defenseman Justin Falk and a fifth-round draft pick to Columbus for her dad less than an hour before the NHL trade deadline hit at 2 p.m. Monday.
(1 of 2) Received letter from Jordyn Leopold, Columbus D Jordan Leopold's daughter. She wants daddy home, it's NHL trade deadline day.
— Paul Allen (@PAOnTheMic) March 2, 2015
(2 of 2) #92Noon shares EXTREMEMLY emotional letter on the radio today around 9. Jordyn is begging #mnwild to "bring daddy home." #kfan1003
— Paul Allen (@PAOnTheMic) March 2, 2015
In an interview with KFAN, Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher said he first saw the letter, Monday on the NHL’s trade deadline.
“I saw the letter for the first time today, and certainly after I saw it there was a lot of pressure to close the deal, that’s for sure. I’ve only spoken to Jordan once this afternoon, and he’s been away from his family for most of the year, and that’s hard. You certainly gotta feel for him. I know he’s extremely excited to come home and play for the Wild … I think we’re going to have a very motivated player – and a very excited family – and those are two very good things to have.”
Leopold has played for Calgary, Colorado, Pittsburgh, Florida, Buffalo, St. Louis and Columbus since reaching the NHL during the 2002-03 season.
"He's very very excited. He called me and said 'I'm coming home!'" Jamie Leopold w/@DanBarreiroKFAN. http://t.co/Qov9SPSqeA
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) March 2, 2015
