Leonard has unfinished business before making jump to NHL with Capitals

The No. 8 pick in the 2023 Draft, a forward, is concentrating on his goal to help Boston College win the NCAA title this season.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Washington Capitals fans will have to wait a little longer before they can watch Ryan Leonard fill the net at Capital One Arena, but the talented 19-year-old forward gave them a preview of things to come during Capitals development camp in July.

Leonard guided his team to victory in the 3-on-3 tournament and the Future Caps Cup on the last day of camp at Washington’s practice facility, in front of a packed audience.

“Last year didn’t go as planned, particularly the tournament where I think we lost in the semis. However, this year really made up for it,” said Leonard, who was drafted as the No. 8 pick by the Capitals in the 2023 NHL Draft. “It was good.”

This year has been significant for Leonard. In his freshman year at Boston College, he scored 60 points, with 31 goals and 29 assists. This achievement placed him fourth among collegiate scorers nationwide, contributing to Boston College’s advancement to the NCAA title game.

Additionally, the Amherst, Massachusetts native won a gold medal representing the United States at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. He contributed six points, comprising of three goals and three assists, in seven games.

Washington was so impressed with Leonard’s season that they approached him about joining the Capitals before their Eastern Conference First Round series against the New York Rangers. However, they lost the series in four straight games.

Brian MacLellan, the president of hockey operations for Washington, said, “We presented him with the choice. I believed it was an excellent year and the timing from our side would have been perfect. We were short of some players going into the playoffs, and it would have been a fantastic opportunity for him to compete against New York.”

Leonard considered the offer, but decided to stick to his initial plan of spending two years at Boston College.

“He confessed, “On the night it occurred, I likely didn’t manage to sleep until about 3 or 4 in the morning. I had a class the following day and was utterly clueless about what to do.”

Leonard had a long phone conversation with his older brother John, who is a forward with four NHL seasons under his belt, including a stint of six games with the Arizona Coyotes in the last season.

“The younger Leonard revealed, “We created lists of the advantages and disadvantages of everything. I believe I relied on him the most.”

Leonard, with his plan set, goes back to college for his sophomore season, resolved to refine his game.

He said, “Throughout this year, I have indeed demonstrated my professionalism in spurts. However, I want to be fully prepared to avoid any regret over my decision. Clearly, the league is larger and faster, so one must remain vigilant at all times. It’s crucial to brace yourself for what’s coming next and make the most effective decisions with the puck.”

Leonard also has his sights set on team goals, specifically winning another world junior championship and aiding BC in completing the mission they couldn’t achieve when they suffered a 2-0 loss to the University of Denver in the final.

“He said, “We fell short by just one game, which is why I’m returning for another year to push the program to where it ought to be. The game was enjoyable, but I hope the result will be different next time.”