The Washington Capitals, in their fist top-10 selection since 2007, selected 18-year-old right wing Ryan Leonard with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft on Wednesday.
Leonard spent last season with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program’s Under-18 Team recording 94 points (51 goals, 43 assists) in 57 games. He had 15 power-play goals and three shorthanded goals and had a plus/minus of 77.
"Leonard is the grind-it-out style of player that can score and produce by putting in the work," Brayton J. Wilson wrote in the Auduacy mock draft. "He’s a tenacious, puck hungry forward who always seems to find a way to be in the right spot at the right time."
Leonard represented the U.S. at the 2022 and 2023 Under-18 World Championships, winning silver and gold. At the 2023 tournament, Leonard scored the gold-medal-clinching goal in overtime against Sweden. He led all skaters in plus/minus (16) and finished third in the tournament in scoring with 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists) in seven games.
“I see him also as the type of player that would be a really good playoff performer,” Washington assistant general manager Ross Mahoney said, via the Washington Post. “When things get a little tighter and it’s a little tight-checking and more hard-hitting and that intensity, I think he’s going to excel in those situations even more.”
Leonard's quick feet and many considered him to be one of the faster skaters for top of the draft prospects. He’s "very hard on puck pursuit or generating an odd-man rush to get into scoring position, and can also control the pace of play with the puck in his control," Wilson wrote.
Leonard is the sixth American selected in the opening round by Washington, the most recent being John Carlson with the 27th overall pick in 2008.
“[I’m] a guy who’s always got energy,” Leonard said, via the Post, “the kind of guy who loves his motor and is always going. I’m a winner. I love to win. A pretty good leader, too. I’m really excited.”
Leonard, who stands six feet tall and weighs 190 pounds is an Amherst, Massachusetts native and bound for Boston College. When asked if there was a player in the Caps' organization who fits his mold he was quick to answer: “Tom Wilson,” he said with a smile. “Tom Wilson, definitely. Tom Wilson. Definitely.”
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