Blue Jackets acquire defenseman Jordan Leopold

The Columbus Blue Jackets, who can't seem to get an injured player back without losing another, acquired veteran defensive depth on Saturday.

The St. Louis Blues announced that they traded defenseman Jordan Leopold to the Blue Jackets for a fifth-round pick in 2016.

Leopold, 34, was a healthy scratch in nine games this season, including the last seven. He has no points in seven games, averaging a little more than 13 minutes a game as a seventh defenseman.

But he'll get a chance to play in Columbus, where the Blue Jackets have had major injury problems this season. Defenseman Fedor Tyutin went on the injured list with a sprained knee, suffered Friday, and will be out four to six weeks.

Plus, defenseman Ryan Murray (lower body) is on the injured list and has missed the past five games.

According to capgeek.com, the Blues are retaining $500,000 of Leopold's $2.25 million salary.

St. Louis called up Chris Butler, 28, to fill Leopold's roster spot.

The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, are getting healthier. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (finger) and forward Artem Anisimov (concussion) are scheduled to return Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks.