Jordan Leopold committed to a one-year, $1.75-million US contract with the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
Leopold, 28, split last season between the Colorado Avalanche and Calgary Flames, who shipped him and a third-round draft pick to the Panthers for the rights to fellow defenceman Jay Bouwmeester.
"When we made the deal for Leopold last week, we did so knowing he was the kind of player and person that we wanted in our organization," Panthers assistant general manager Randy Sexton said. "It took some time to reach an agreement that Jordan and his family were comfortable with, but we're thrilled to have him.
"That said, he is a very mobile defenceman that logs considerable minutes and is solid in all three zones. He is also a proven post-season performer from his time in college, with Calgary and in pressure situations with the U.S. national team."
Leopold has totalled 29 goals and 109 points in 355 games over six NHL seasons with the Colorado Avalanche and Flames.
He had seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points in 83 games last season.
With files from The Associated PressBulgaria pulls lifting team from Olympics
Bulgaria's weightlifting federation said Friday it is withdrawing its team from the Beijing Olympics after 11 of its athletes failed out-of-competition doping tests.
Kucera takes silver in World Cup super giant slalom
Calgary's John Kucera led two Canadians into the top 10 with a silver medal at a World Cup super giant slalom on Sunday in Lake Louise, Alta.
Halladay, Lackey square off in Anaheim
The Blue Jays and Angels will send their best starters to the mound Saturday night in Anaheim as Toronto's Roy Halladay battles Los Angeles ace John Lackey (CBC, 9 p.m. ET).
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