20-year-old Ryan Leonard, the Capitals’ 2023 first-round draft pick, made his debut with Washington on April 1st as the team visited the Boston Bruins. Leonard’s NCAA team, Boston College, was eliminated from the Frozen Four playoffs on Sunday, and the forward signed his entry-level contract the next morning. After being taken out on the town by Alex Ovechkin and crew, Leonard’s rookie lap and NHL debut brought big smiles–and even bigger hits.
With the Capitals having found so much success with their current roster, would adding a new member to the squad throw off their groove? If their 4-3 win over Boston with Leonard in the lineup proves anything, the answer is a resounding no. What does Ryan Leonard bring to this stellar Capitals team, and how will he benefit them in making a deep playoff run?
Offensive Ability and Scoring
It’s no secret that Ryan Leonard is incredibly skilled when it comes to offense. In his freshman season with Boston College, he racked up 60 points across 41 games–over half of those coming from goals. He nearly matched his goal total this season, scoring 30 goals in 37 games with the Eagles. The power forward was also a critical member of Team USA as they took home gold for the second year in a row at this year’s World Junior Championship. Leonard tallied 10 points across the tournament– five goals and five assists–earning himself the title of tournament MVP. Ryan Leonard has a powerful one-timer, but that is not all that makes his offensive game so strong. He is also incredibly adept at finding space and getting open, seeing potential plays before his teammates do, and setting himself up to receive the puck and get it to the front of the net. His skating abilities are strong– he accelerates quickly and is able to make rushes past defenders and drive to the net hard. With star forwards like Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson beginning to age out of their careers, the Capitals will need quick, powerful forwards in their places if they want to continue the success they have found recently–and Ryan Leonard will likely be a huge part of that rebuild.
Physicality and Defensive Ability
Ryan Leonard is already a big guy, with room to grow still. He stands at six feet, 200 pounds, and he uses his size and strength to his advantage. In his first two games in the NHL, we’ve already seen his power on full display, with the winger registering seven hits. He laid a big hit on former Capital Dmitry Orlov, who is not an easy guy to knock down. There were multiple instances of the team’s recent game against the Hurricanes where Leonard was able to get control of the puck to clear it out of high-danger areas. He is not afraid to hustle, forecheck, and get in the midst of play to help his team out on every shift he takes. While his defensive game does need further development to make him a true two-way forward, his willingness to hit and use his body to attack and stop opponents in their tracks makes him a significant part of the Capitals’ defensive efforts.
Team Culture
The Capitals are already embracing Ryan Leonard for all that he is–both on and off the ice. He has already found a slot in the team’s top-six lines, playing alongside Aliaksei Protas and Dylan Strome. The Capitals are notorious for their pre-game tunnel routines, and Leonard was quickly given the nickname “Leonardo” by Alex Ovechkin and declaring “I have an idea!” to jump in on the chaotic fun. Spencer Carbery has spoken highly of Leonard in his first couple of games, noting “to step into a game, couple days after his college season ends and to play the way he did, it’s pretty impressive, and showed a lot of good things in his first outing,” and indicated that in the game against the Hurricanes, he was “one of our best players on the ice”.
As previously mentioned, the team took Leonard out in his college town, treating him to dinner before singing their newest tunnel anthem, Bandz A Make Her Dance, at a local college bar. The kid is being embraced, loved, and taken under the wing of a more veteran Capitals team. Leonard has become known in hockey for his big personality and pesty antics, like blowing a kiss to the Swedish fans after scoring in the World Junior Championship. He will bring a young, fresh, and fun energy to an already chaotic and goofy Capitals team, and will fit in just fine.
Overall, Ryan Leonard is nothing but a positive addition to an already stellar Washington hockey team. With continued ice time and development in play, he will no doubt be a star and live up to the expectations given when he was drafted. He could play a big role in the Capitals’ playoff run, as he adds another layer of depth to their stacked offensive lineup. Time will tell, but Leonard’s future with the Capitals is looking very bright.
ITR 35: Round One – Inside The Rink
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