With training camp set to begin Thursday, the Washington Capitals took care of some business and signed forward Ryan Leonard to an eight-year extension with a cap hit of $10.5 million per season.

After the Philadelphia Flyers used an offer sheet to try and sign Leo Carlsson to a $90 million total, teams have been wary of leaving restricted free agents unsigned and vulnerable to other teams’ offers. And Tuesday was the last day to sign players to eight-year extensions, causing Washington to avoid reaching RFA status next summer.

Leonard, who turns 22 in January, will now be tied with fellow Boston College alumnus Alex Tuch as Washington’s highest-paid player next season, and the Capitals are banking on his development.

The forward, who made his NHL debut just 17 months ago in April 2025, netted 20 goals in his first full season, which was split in half due to an injury suffered in Anaheim in December.

He recorded a four-point game in San Jose as the Capitals appeared well on their way to a second consecutive playoff berth after missing the cut and using their eighth overall pick in 2023 for him, but an elbow thrown at his head by Ducks forward Jacob Trouba knocked him out for weeks, and the Caps never recovered.

Leonard seemed to hit his stride as the team missed the playoffs by four points, and Washington will be banking on his development going forward with a long-term deal.

Washington GM Chris Patrick, in a statement, showed how they feel Leonard will be entering his prime down the road

“We are extremely excited to sign Ryan to a long-term contract with our club,” Patrick said in a release. “Ryan is a young and talented player who is still years away from entering his prime, and we believe he has tremendous potential to continue growing into an important player for our organization.

“While reaching his full potential will take time, we have been impressed with his work ethic and the way he continues to develop his game. We are confident in Ryan’s ability to continue improving as a hockey player, and we believe this agreement provides him with the opportunity to grow and develop within our organization while giving us the ability to keep a talented young player in our lineup for years to come.”

Leonard, who proved himself crafty although a bit inconsistent last season as he adjusted to the speed of the National Hockey League, should get more of a chance to develop with Washington’s improved attack this season, and certainly is a big part of their future plans.

While Leonard will play this season at his entry-level contract of $975,000, his over ten-fold raise certainly will make next year’s cap much more complex for Washington.