Photos courtesy of Boston College Athletics
Washington Capitals draft prospect Ryan Leonard discusses his future with the team
Washington Capitals prized prospect Ryan Leonard won’t shy away from talking about playing in the NHL—and real soon—even though his sophomore season for the Boston College men’s ice hockey team is midway. Athletes use the axiom often: one game at a time.
Leonard’s first game in a Capitals uniform could be only months away. Drafted in 2023, Leonard was Washington’s first top-10 pick since 2007 and he possesses the skills teams desire: physicality, grit, smooth skating ability, accurate and booming shot, and excellent leadership.
The 6-foot-195-pound Leonard played in USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (51 goals in 57 games) before a stellar freshman year at Boston College (31 goals, 60 points).
In April of the 2023–2024 NHL season, Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan told the 19-year-old he could play with the team in the playoffs’ first-round against the Rangers. For many highly regarded players, that’s probably a pipedream. But Leonard declined, to stay at Boston College for the team’s own playoff run to the national championship game (ultimately losing to Denver).
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Leonard admits. “It was such a difficult thing to turn down knowing I could have made my debut at Madison Square Garden.” We talked with Leonard ahead of the 2024–2025 season.
Photos courtesy of Boston College Athletics
How would you describe your style of play? I think I am a power forward and leader on the ice. That was a learning process once I got to the National Development Program. Coaches (Adam) Nightengale and (Greg) Moore were both very good to me and taught me the right thing: play two-way hockey. I attribute a lot of my success as a well-around player to those two.
You played in the National Development Program with two NHL first-round draft picks, Will Smith and Gabe Perreault. Was it a lot of fun? It was great. I think we took off as a line and it’s really great to represent your country. I take a lot of pride in that. And there’s a lot of connections you have in the National Development program when you are involved in it. They go a long way in your hockey life. USA Hockey has done a lot for me.
How did you look at your freshman year at Boston College, after scoring 31 goals and playing in the college national championship? It was really cool. I didn’t care about individual success or breaking the rookie scoring record. Individual success can only go so far in life. We were one win away from a national championship. We just really wanted to get that win and that’s the reason I am going back for my sophomore year.
Talk about how participating in Capitals’ summer rookie camp in both 2023 and 2024 aided in your development. It really helps getting closer with all the management and the coaching staff. You need to build those types of relationships. It’s been a really good experience and it’s important to ease your way in. I am looking forward to calling that place home soon.
When the Capitals offered you a chance to play in the playoffs, how tough was the decision to turn it down? I have trust in the team that they will one day get back to the playoffs. Maybe if it wasn’t for that last loss in the national championship game, I would be a professional now. I talked to (Pittsburgh Penguins center) Kevin Hayes, who is from Boston and went to Boston College, about my decision after I made it. He said I made the right decision for sure.
Talk about the relationship between you and your brother John, who has played professionally. He is my biggest role model in life. We both went through the National Development Program. At the end of the year, when I had to face that tough decision of going back to BC or playing for the Capitals, he was the one I leaned on most. Brotherly love really goes a long way. I am very motivated—100 percent—to play professional hockey because of him.
Will playing for the Capitals fulfill a dream for you? Every hockey player’s dream as a kid is to play in the NHL. When that day comes, hopefully it will be a very happy moment for the people that helped me get to that point. I hope to have a long and healthy career. I am really keeping tabs on them like they are keeping tabs on me.
