Ryan Leonard (ice hockey)
{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 2005)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox ice hockey biography
| name = Ryan Leonard
| image = U.S. National U-18 at Wisconsin Badgers 1619 (Ryan Leonard).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Leonard playing for the U.S. NTDP in 2023
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|1|21}}
| birth_place = Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 192
| position = Forward
| shoots = Right
| league = NHL
| team = Washington Capitals
| ntl_team = USA
| draft = 8th overall
| draft_year = 2023
| draft_team = Washington Capitals
| career_start = 2025
}}
Ryan Leonard (born January 21, 2005) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected eighth overall by the Capitals in the 2023 NHL entry draft. He played college ice hockey at Boston College.{{cite web|url=https://thehockeywriters.com/washington-capitals-draft-ryan-leonard-8th-overall/ |title=Washington Capitals Draft Ryan Leonard 8th Overall |website=thehockeywriters.com |first=Shawn |last=Wilken |date=June 28, 2023 |access-date=June 28, 2023}}
Playing career
=College=
Leonard began his college ice hockey at Boston College during the 2023–24 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Amherst-s-Ryan-Leonard-commits-to-Boston-College-hockey-41756340 |title=Amherst native Ryan Leonard commits to Boston College hockey |newspaper=Daily Hampshire Gazette |first=Kyle |last=Grabowski |date=August 1, 2021 |access-date=May 1, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Western-Mass-hasnt-seen-an-NHL-Draft-prospect-like-Ryan-Leonard-since-all-star-Bill-Guerin-51450218 |title=Western Mass. hasn't seen an NHL Draft prospect like Ryan Leonard since all-star Bill Guerin |newspaper=Daily Hampshire Gazette |first=Kyle |last=Grabowski |date=June 27, 2023 |access-date=June 28, 2023}} During his freshman year he recorded 31 goals and 29 assists in 41 games. Following the season he was named to the All-Hockey East Second Team, Hockey East All-Rookie Team, and an AHCA East Second Team All-American.
During the 2024–25 season, in his sophomore year, he recorded 30 goals and 19 assists in 37 games. He led the NCAA in goals, and became the first player with consecutive 30-goal seasons since Cam Atkinson in the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.uscho.com/2025/03/31/after-61-goals-in-two-seasons-at-boston-college-leonard-signs-nhl-contract-with-capitals/ |title=After 61 goals in two seasons at Boston College, Leonard signs NHL contract with Capitals |website=USCHO.com |date=March 31, 2025 |access-date=March 31, 2025}} During conference play he led Hockey East in goals (25), points (37), points per game (1.54), shots (116), game-winning goals (8), and plus-minus (+25). Following the season he was named to the All-Hockey East First Team, the Hockey East Scoring Champion, Hockey East Player of the Year, and won the Hockey East Three-Stars Award.{{cite web|url=https://bceagles.com/news/2025/3/19/mens-hockey-leonard-named-hockey-east-player-of-the-year-four-eagles-named-first-team-all-stars |title=Leonard Named Hockey East Player of the Year; Four Eagles Named First Team All-Stars |website=bceagles.com |date=March 19, 2025 |access-date=March 19, 2025}} He was also named a Hobey Hat Trick finalist for the 2025 Hobey Baker Award, and a AHCA East First Team All-American.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article/wilds-buium-capitals-leonard-lightnings-howard-named-hobey-baker-hat-trick-finalists/ |title=Wild's Buium, Capitals' Leonard, Lightning's Howard named Hobey Baker 'Hat Trick Finalists' |website=Sportsnet |date=April 3, 2025 |access-date=April 11, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://ushl.com/news/2025/4/12/general-howard-fowler-and-20-all-americans-take-top-college-hockey-honors.aspx |title=Howard, Fowler and Alumni Earn College Hockey's Top Honors's Buium, Capitals' Leonard, Lightning's Howard named Hobey Baker 'Hat Trick Finalists' |website=USHL.com |date=April 11, 2025 |access-date=April 11, 2025}}
=Professional=
On March 31, 2025, Leonard signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/capitals-sign-ryan-leonard |title=Capitals Sign Ryan Leonard |website=NHL.com |date=March 31, 2025 |access-date=March 31, 2025}} He made his NHL debut the next day in a game against the Boston Bruins with many of his former Boston College teammates in attendance.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/ryan-leonard-boston-college-teammates-cheer-nhl-debut |title=Leonard's Boston College teammates cheer forward during NHL debut for Capitals |website=NHL.com |first=Anna |last=Kulesa |date=April 1, 2025 |access-date=April 1, 2025}} Leonard scored his first career goal, an empty netter, on April 4, in a 5–3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks.{{cite web |title=Ovechkin scores twice to tie Gretzky's NHL goals record at 894 as the Capitals beat the Blackhawks |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401688806 |website=ESPN |access-date=April 12, 2025 |date=April 4, 2025}}
International play
{{MedalTableTop|name=}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ihj|USA}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's ice hockey}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2024 Sweden|}}
{{MedalGold|2025 Canada|}}
{{MedalCompetition|World U18 Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2023 Switzerland|}}
{{MedalSilver|2022 Germany|}}
{{MedalBottom}}
Leonard represented the United States under-18 team at the 2022 World U18 Championships, where he recorded five goals and one assist in six games and won a silver medal.{{cite web|url=https://www.gazettenet.com/How-that-kid-from-Amherst-Ryan-Leonard-became-a-likely-top-10-2023-NHL-draft-pick-51394403 |title=Call him 'goal-oriented': Amherst hockey prodigy Ryan Leonard likely a top 10 NHL Draft pick |newspaper=Daily Hampshire Gazette |first=Kyle |last=Grabowski |date=June 27, 2023 |access-date=June 28, 2023}} He again represented the United States at the 2023 World U18 Championships, where he recorded eight goals and nine assists in seven games. He scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the championship game against Sweden under-18 team to help win a gold medal.{{cite web|url=https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/news_article/show/1272149 |title=Team USA Captures Gold Medal at U18 Men's World Championship |website=usahockeyntdp.com |date=May 8, 2023 |access-date=June 28, 2023}}
On December 16, 2023, Leonard was named to the United States junior team to compete at the 2024 World Junior Championships. During the tournament he recorded three goals and three assists in seven games and won a gold medal.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/cutter-gauthier-leads-united-states-2024-world-junior-roster |title=Gauthier leads United States 2024 World Junior roster |website=NHL.com |first=Mike G. |last=Morreale |date=December 16, 2023 |access-date=December 16, 2023}} He again represented the United States at the 2025 World Junior Championships, where he served as team captain and recorded five goals and five assists in seven games and won a gold medal. He was subsequently named the inaugural Murray Costello World Junior Championship MVP award winner.{{cite web|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2025/wm20/news/65274/2025_wjc_mvp |title=Leonard named MVP |website=IIHF.com |first=Lucas |last=Aykroyd |date=January 5, 2025 |access-date=January 5, 2025}} He helped win back-to-back gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship for the first time in history.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/world-junior-championship/united-states-captain-ryan-leonard-leads-way-to-world-junior-gold |title=Leonard's leadership paves way for U.S. gold at WJC |website=NHL.com |first=Adam |last=Kimelman |date=January 6, 2025 |access-date=January 6, 2025}}
Personal life
Leonard was born to parents John and Cindy Leonard. He has three siblings. His brother, John, is a professional ice hockey player. His father, John Sr., was an assistant coach for the UMass Minutemen basketball team between 2001 and 2005.{{cite web|url=https://umassathletics.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/john--leonard/11248 |title=John Leonard |website=umassathletics.com |access-date=June 28, 2023}}
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||
| 2021–22
| U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 33 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 22
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2022–23 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 17 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 18
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24
| HE | 41 | 31 | 29 | 60 | 38
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2024–25 | Boston College | HE | 37 | 30 | 19 | 49 | 46
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|NCAA totals ! 78 !! 61 !! 48 !! 109 !! 84 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! — |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||
| 2022
| U18 | {{silver2}} | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2023 | United States | U18 | {{gold1}} | 7 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 4 |
| 2024
| WJC | {{gold1}} | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2024 | WC | 5th | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2025
| United States | WJC | {{gold1}} | 7 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 12 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Junior totals ! 27 !! 21 !! 18 !! 39 !! 26 | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Senior totals ! 6 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 !! 2 |
Awards and honors
| class="wikitable"
! Award ! Year ! Ref |
| colspan="3"|College |
|---|
| All-Hockey East Hockey East Second Team
| rowspan="3"|2024 |
| Hockey East All-Rookie Team |
| AHCA East Second Team All-American |
| All-Hockey East First Team
| rowspan="5"|2025 |
| Hockey East Three-Stars Award |
| Hockey East Scoring Champion |
| Hockey East Player of the Year |
| AHCA East First Team All-American |
| colspan="3"|International |
| IIHF World Junior Championship best forward
| 2025 |
| IIHF World Junior Championship Most Valuable Player
| 2025 |
| IIHF World Junior Championship Media All-Star team
| 2025 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
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{{succession box | before = Ivan Miroshnichenko | title = Washington Capitals first round draft pick | years = 2023 | after = Terik Parascak}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonard, Ryan}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans
Category:American men's ice hockey centers
Category:Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey players
Category:Ice hockey players from Massachusetts
Category:NHL first-round draft picks
Category:Sportspeople from Amherst, Massachusetts
Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players
Category:Washington Capitals draft picks
Category:Washington Capitals players
{{US-icehockey-center-stub}}