Victor Decolongon / Getty Images

Olli Jokinen, who has 229 goals in 780 NHL games, will finally make the playoffs for the first time in his career.

updated 3:51 p.m. ET March 4, 2009

The Phoenix Coyotes have traded center Olli Jokinen to the Calgary Flames for two young players and a conditional first-round draft pick.

The 30-year-old Jokinen had 21 goals and 21 assists in 57 games in his first season with Phoenix. He has 229 goals in 780 career NHL games with Los Angeles, the New York Islanders, Florida and Phoenix.

The Coyotes acquired center Matthew Lombardi, right wing Brandon Prust and a conditional first-round pick. Phoenix sent a third-round 2009 draft pick to Calgary as part of the transaction.

Earlier in the day, the Coyotes sent goaltender Mikael Tellqvist to Buffalo for a fourth-round draft pick in 2010, and the Flames acquired defenseman Jordan Leopold from the Colorado Avalanche.

The Avalanche are usually buyers this time of year, but the team has tumbled into last place in the Western Conference with a 28-35-1 record. This is the first time the team has had a losing mark this late in the season since the franchise relocated in 1995-96.

Shaky goaltending from Peter Budaj and Andrew Raycroft and injuries to players like captain Joe Sakic and Paul Stastny have played a role in the Avalanche’s plunge.

Not that Colorado was looking for convenient excuses.

“It’s an awful year this year, we all know that,” Ian Laperriere said. “It’s no secret.”

That’s why the Avalanche turned into sellers, dealing Leopold.

Ryan Smyth, Milan Hejduk and Laperriere were also rumored to be on the trading block.

Now, they’re staying put on a team that’s in the midst of a five-game skid.

“I want to be on this team,” Hejduk said. “I still feel like there’s lots of talent on this team. ... It’s just a weird season — up and down. Lately it’s more like down. It’s really frustrating.”

Leopold was one of Colorado’s top defenseman, playing all 64 games for the Avalanche this season, with six goals and 14 assists.

He’ll be returning to familiar surroundings. Leopold played three seasons for the Flames before being acquired by Colorado on June 24, 2006.

“Jordan’s going to be missed on the ice,” Laperriere said. “Personally, he’s going to be missed as a friend.”

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