PuckSleuth
9Washington Capitals · Right wing · Shoots R
Ryan Leonard
Age 21 · 6'1" · 205 lb · Born in Northampton, USA
Cap hit
$950K
0.9% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then a 8-year extension at $10.5M
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$4.706M
vs. $5.656M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
1
33.3% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
1
1.00 per game
TOI/GP
12:08
PP 0:37 · PK 0:00
xGF%
40.8
5v5, -5.6 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.27
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
+1
Blocks 1 · Hits 2
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 @ CAR · W 5-2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12:08 | 0:37 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +0.27 |
| Apr 14 @ CBJ · W 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 16:05 | 2:26 | 0:00 | — | — | 1 | 0 | +1 | -0.31 |
| Apr 12 vs PIT · W 3-0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 15:40 | 0:51 | 0:00 | — | 57 | 1 | 1 | +2 | +0.46 |
| Apr 11 @ PIT · W 6-3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14:00 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 25 | 1 | 1 | +1 | +1.09 |
| Apr 8 @ TOR · W 4-0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 13:22 | 1:39 | 0:00 | — | 40 | 0 | 1 | +1 | +0.43 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 875 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
28th percentile
17th percentile
16th percentile
20th percentile
15th percentile
31st percentile
91st percentile
35th percentile
13th percentile
76th percentile
74th percentile
74th percentile
96th percentile
29th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleOffensive playmaker
Trait percentiles vs. NHL wingers · 2025-26
Leonard is a prolific scorer and passer with elite shot volume and creativity who generates chances at a high rate. However, his defensive positioning and puck decisions need development, and he struggles to create advantageous rush chances.
- Shooting volume
- 86
- Playmaking
- 88
- Zone entries(est.)
- 31
- Forechecking
- 64
- Physicality
- 64
- Defensive impact
- 5
- Puck management
- 7
- Speed
- 84
Where he shoots from
Slot 30% · Mid-range 49% · Perimeter 21%(239 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite playmaking at 88th percentile creates consistent scoring opportunities
- Top-tier shooting volume at 86th percentile keeps defenses honest
- Exceptional speed at 84th percentile generates separation and open looks
Watch-outs
- Defensive impact ranks just 5th percentile, positioning and awareness need work
- Puck management at 7th percentile shows careless decision-making under pressure
- Rush chances only 31st percentile suggests limited ability to beat defenders 1v1
Similar style: Juraj Slafkovský (MTL), Evander Kane
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 75 GP · goals above average
Season total +4.6 goals, or +0.06 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +0.1
- Even strength defense
- -1.2
- Power play
- -0.4
- Finishing
- +1.4
- Playmaking
- +2.7
- Penalties
- +2.1
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Washington Capitals | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 5.9 | 14:11 | 100.0 | -0.16 |
| 2025-26 | Washington Capitals | 75 | 20 | 25 | 45 | +2 | 47 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 153 | 13.1 | 14:25 | 54.5 | +0.06 |
| 2026-27 | Washington Capitals | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 16.7 | 13:09 | — | +0.27 |
| Career | 3 seasons | 86 | 22 | 25 | 47 | -1 | 58 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 176 | 12.5 | 14:22 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Usage
Last game: @ CAR, Oct 2
Line 3 with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome (6:22 together at 5-on-5) · PP2
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Ryan Leonard News: Finds twine to open season
RotoWire · Oct 3
- Ryan Leonard | Postgame
NHL.com · Oct 3
- WSH@CAR: Leonard scores goal against Brandon Bussi
NHL.com · Oct 3
- Ryan Leonard lights the lamp for Capitals
ESPN · Oct 3
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.32 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 24.3 mph
- 99th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 123
- Hardest shot
- 93.9 mph
- 95th pct
- Distance
- 163.3 mi
- OZ time
- 40.6%
- 29th pct
- DZ time
- 41.2%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 21, forwards typically produce 96% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
9 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | WSH | $950K | 0.9% |
| 2027-28New deal | WSH | $10.5M | 9.3% |
| 2028-29 | WSH | $10.5M | — |
| 2029-30 | WSH | $10.5M | — |
| 2030-31 | WSH | $10.5M | — |
| 2031-32 | WSH | $10.5M | — |
| 2032-33 | WSH | $10.5M | — |
| 2033-34 | WSH | $10.5M | — |
| 2034-35 | WSH | $10.5M | — |
$84.95M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).