While Washington Capitals forward Ryan Leonard is just 21 and won’t hit the 100 NHL games played mark for another few weeks, he has shown flashes of what makes him a dangerous forward – and what needs to be worked on.
Last week in Carolina, although Leonard was one of the most effective forwards out there and picked up a pair of assists, he got benched for taking a slashing penalty in the third period of a tie game. By the end of the week, he scored a spectacular first-period goal to change the momentum in a win over New Jersey.
Leonard certainly is showing flashes of the potential of being the 8th overall pick three years ago, as he is third on the team in goals with 3 and second on the team with 7.
Last season, Leonard seemed he was coming into his own on the team’s California trip, notching two goals and two assists in a win in San Jose. However, the next game in Anaheim, he was injured and didn’t really seem to get his stride back towards the end of the year.
This year, even after signing an 8-year, $84 million extension which kicks in next season, with a deeper offensive corps, Leonard isn’t quite under the microscope despite the $10.5 million pending cap hit.
With some of the team’s newcomers playing well early, Leonard seemingly has regained his form as of late.
Leonard – Feisty And Skilled
While Leonard has always been a bit of a chippy player dating back to his days at Boston College, he also has a lot of skill as evidenced by his power play goal against the Devils, where he slipped two defenders and beat Jake Allen with a spectacular tally.
When asked afterwards if it was the nicest goal he had scored, he grinned and said, “I don’t know. It’s probably up there, for sure.”
His teammates also recognize Leonard’s value to the team.
”[He] brings a lot of energy,” Vincent Desharnais said. “It was, I mean, that’s the type of player he is. He’s just such a high-skilled player.
“He can be, and the thing I like the most, all items, he can be physical, he can throw some hits, but he can also score those goals that are highlight reels, and he’s gonna be here for a while.”
”He’s a great player and no surprise he makes plays like that,” Ilya Protas added. “[That] was a huge goal for us and tied the game and yeah, happy for him.”
”He’s a shifty kid, and, um, you know, just getting more confidence every game, and he’s gonna be a special player in this league for a long time,” Logan Thompson said.
Asked if he had matured, Thompson laughed.
“No one says mature. But no, he’s a good kid. Him and [Cole Hutson] have been fun, fun to have … he has fun off the ice, and then when it’s time to put the work boots on, he works, and you can see it in practice, and, you know, it’s coming in games. “
“I’m just happy for him … he’s a big part of this organization for years to come.”
So while Leonard will have some growing pains like shown by his benching in Raleigh, the skill set certainly shows how he can also bring a crowd to life.
And with the Capitals’ guard changing with Alex Ovechkin leaving after this season, they hope Leonard can continue his own catalog of highlight reel plays while learning to curb the physical edge he shows at times.
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