When the Washington Capitals selected Ryan Leonard with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, it felt like they struck draft night gold with the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Massachusetts native right wing.
After being selected, he went to Boston College, where he took Hockey East by storm. In his freshman year of 2023-24, he had 31 goals and 29 assists in 41 games, before collecting 30 goals and 19 goals in 37 games for the Eagles last year. After BC was bounced in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last spring, Leonard signed his entry-level contract with the Capitals.