PuckSleuth
Ryan Leonard9

Washington 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

+$4.626M

vs. $5.576M market estimate

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2026-27 regular season

GP

2

Goals

1

16.7% shooting

Assists

0

0 primary

Points

1

0.50 per game

TOI/GP

13:09

PP 0:57 · PK 0:00

Plus/minus

+1

Hits

5

Blocks 1

PIM

0

Game Score

+0.84

per game

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Oct 3
@ TBL · L 3-1
0033014:101:170:00—100210+0.34
Oct 2
@ CAR · W 5-2
1032112:080:370:00—5000+1+1.34
Apr 14
@ CBJ · W 2-1
0022116:052:260:00——10+1+0.24
Apr 12
vs PIT · W 3-0
0121115:400:510:00—5711+2+1.24
Apr 11
@ PIT · W 6-3
2032114:000:000:00—2511+1+2.55

GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). 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

xGF%46.3%

28th percentile

Relative xGF%-5.1

17th percentile

HDCF%41.9%

16th percentile

CF%45.9%

20th percentile

Relative CF%-4.5

15th percentile

FF%47.3%

31st percentile

GF%60.6%

91st percentile

CF/6053.6

35th percentile

CA/6063.2

13th percentile

ixG/601.28

76th percentile

Goals above expected+1.3

74th percentile

IPP72.1%

74th percentile

PDO104.7

96th percentile

OZS%46.0%

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.

high-volume shootercreative passeroffensive upside
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.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

SeasonLeagueTeamGPGAP+/-PIM
2014-15Brick InvitationalBoston Jr. Bruins67411—6
2014-15 (playoffs)Brick InvitationalBoston Jr. Bruins1000—0
2021-22NTDPU.S. National U17 Team26101020—43
2021-22USHLUSNTDP Juniors3310515+222
2021-22NTDPU.S. National U18 Team3616723+2022
2021-22WJC-18USA U186516+76
2022-23NTDPU.S. National U18 Team57514394+7746
2022-23USHLUSNTDP Juniors1711920+2018
2022-23WJC-18USA U1878917+164
2023-24NCAABoston College41312960+3638
2023-24WJC-20USA U207336+24
2023-24WCUSA601102
2023-24InternationalTeam USA101102
2024-25NHLWashington Capitals9101-411
2024-25NCAABoston College37301949+3046
2024-25WJC-20USA U2075510+1012
2024-25 (playoffs)NHLWashington Capitals8011+12
2025-26NHLWashington Capitals75202545+247
2026-27NHLWashington Capitals2101+10

Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.

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 +1.04 per game over these 10.

Where his Game Score comes from

+0.69 per game

2025-26 · 75 GP

Season total +51.5, or +0.69 per game.

Scoring
+36.1
Shooting
+11.5
5-on-5 goals
+2.3
Defense
-1.2
Physical play
+3.7
Puck battles
-2.9
Penalties
+2.1

Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

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%

Usage

Last game: @ TBL, Oct 3

Line 2 with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome (7:22 together at 5-on-5) · PP2

From the NHL's shift chart.

Age curve

At 21: 96% of peak

NHL forwards · production index

202937

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

SeasonTeamCap hit% of cap
2026-27WSH$950K0.9%
2027-28New dealWSH$10.5M9.3%
2028-29WSH$10.5M—
2029-30WSH$10.5M—
2030-31WSH$10.5M—
2031-32WSH$10.5M—
2032-33WSH$10.5M—
2033-34WSH$10.5M—
2034-35WSH$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).