Ryan Leonard
Versatility with a battering ram mentality
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 192 lbs.
Shoots: Right
Position: Center
Team: USNTDP
Nationality: USA
The Draft Prospectus Ranking: #11
One of the most underrated jobs in hockey is a skilled winger who can create space for their superstar. The Washington Capitals have Tom Wilson, the Edmonton Oilers have Evander Kane, and the USNTDP has Ryan Leonard.
Leonard is the third member of the NTDP’s top line, with Will Smith and Gabe Perreault. The three have been together all season and have built outstanding chemistry while racking up points left and right.
While Leonard may not be the biggest guy on the ice for the role he plays, he’s as solid as they come. The kid loves to hit the gym and plays like his hair is on fire every shift.
“He’s a versatile, high-RPM player who makes things happen when he’s on the ice and pulls teamates into the fight with his scrappy, competitive, never-stop style.” - Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
Leonard knows his role and plays it well. Smith and Perreault are playmakers and do so at a high level. While they’re busy making defenders look foolish, Leonard is typically tracking down the puck and dishing it to his linemates.
While he doesn’t have the same point production as his linemates, Leonard is at the top of the NTDP’s goal-scoring list with 51 goals, tied with Smith for the team's second-best.
Leonard scored the biggest goal of his career thus far in his final game wearing an NTDP sweater. As the USA and Sweden headed to overtime in the Gold Medal Game of the U18 World Championship, Leonard found the back of the net as the USA was crowned champions.
Leonard comes from a long lineage of professional and collegiate athletes. His brother John was a draft pick of the San Jose Sharks, appearing in 58 NHL games now playing with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL, his father was a draft pick of the New York Knicks in 1982, and his two sisters are currently Division III basketball players.
🥅 Offensively, Leonard is nowhere near his potential, which is part of what makes scouts so enamored by the Amherst, MA, native. He is a high-floor/high-ceiling forward, still capable of improving his passing and vision.
Leonard is a battler, fighting towards the front of the net where he finds little pockets of space to set himself up to receive a pass. While Smith and Perreault rack up the assists, Leonard is typically the beneficiary, stockpiling goals.
When he’s not banging bodies across the ice, Leonard has a slick pair of hands. While his puck handling shouldn’t be classified as elite, he does much more than would be expected of a power forward.
Leonard’s best attribute, and one that goes overlooked often, is his puck retrieval. He loves the puck battles along the boards, making it look as if he takes it personally, and rarely comes out on the losing end of one. Not only does the time spent in the weight room help Leonard with his puck retrievals and scrums in the corner, but it also has helped his speed tremendously. With his powerful lower body, he is capable of generating so much force in his skating strides, making him one of the NTDP’s best skaters.
Though he is listed as a center, Leonard is incredibly versatile and capable of playing any of the forward positions, which will translate well to the next level and give him an opportunity to earn ice time much sooner.
He plays the power play typically as a net-front presence, battling with defenders and looking to screen the goalie.
Offensively, it’s hard to nitpick around Leonard’s game. He scores, he works hard, he can skate. The only thing he can be knocked for is though he may be very good at everything, he lacks that one dynamic trait that sets him apart from the pack.
He won’t be near the league leaders in scoring and won’t be that guy who looks head and shoulders above everyone else. But he is a guy that stars will want to play with, as Leonard will do all he can to get them the puck and put them in position to make a play.
🏒 Just like the offensive end of the ice, Leonard is a workhorse on the defensive side of the puck. He likes to forecheck hard and lays the body at every opportunity to separate the puck.
Once in his own zone, Leonard has a very active stick. He does very well with deflecting passes and is a threat to make a poke check, sending him on a breakaway in the other direction.
He’s a very effective penalty killer and will put his body in front of pucks. He seems to do everything right.
📊 There is absolutely a place for Leonard in the NHL it’s just a matter of finding the best fit for him.
Leonard will play collegiately at Boston College next year, joined by Smith and Perreault. Leonard will look to grow his game even more as the three hope to recreate the chemistry they had with the NTDP.
The best-case scenario for Leonard would be to head to a team with established stars who are missing a bit of grit to put them over the edge. While teams who finished in the league's cellar will scoop up the prospects with star potential with the earlier selections, Leonard could fall into a team's lap as the perfect fit.
He can play anywhere within the top-9 but is probably better off settling comfortably in the middle-6.
Though there is a pretty significant range where Leonard could be selected, look for him to be taken off the board right towards the back end of the top-10 to the middle of the first round.
📈 📉 Rankings by Top Publications and Insiders
Sportsnet: 6
TSN/Bob McKenzie: 17
TSN/Craig Button: 13
The Hockey News: 12