Ryan Leonard scored the lone goal in the Capitals’ 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. The 20-year-old winger now has two goals in three games during his first-ever experience playing NHL preseason hockey this fall.
Unlike his first goal, a dazzling individual effort against the New Jersey Devils, Leonard’s second marker was a more hard-working, gritty effort. The 2023 first-round pick battled for inside position in front of Boston’s net and was able to punch home a rebound created by defenseman Jakob Chychrun.
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery spoke about Leonard’s effort postgame, praising the young forward for a direct response to some previous one-on-one coaching.
“The goal is exactly what I’ve been talking to him about,” Carbery said. “I thought he did a really good job getting to the inside, fights for space, gets rewarded. Couple other really good plays, using his feet to create more space for himself and with that create some opportunities for his teammates. He did some good things.”
Leonard played 15:14 of ice time in the team’s first defeat of the preseason, firing two shots on goal, blocking one shot, and throwing two hits. The physical part of his game was noticeable and helped him draw a roughing penalty on Bruins defenseman Jonathan Aspirot.
After battling to the front of the net, Leonard poked at a loose puck being covered by Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. Aspirot, who had been engaged in physicality with Leonard multiple times throughout the game, cross-checked him to the ice and earned a seat in the penalty box.
“I thought at the start of the second period on the power play, [Aspirot] kinda got me a little bit cheap behind the net,” Leonard explained. “It was a little bit of a slewfoot, so, obviously, that pisses you off a little bit, but there’s also a fine line where you’re putting yourself out there, but you don’t want to put the team on the penalty kill. I try to find the fine line, but you definitely want to stick up for yourself, too.”
Leonard did not end up in the penalty box during the game and got even with Aspirot, leveling the rearguard with a big hit late in the second frame.
“[Leonard’s] just a competitive young man,” Carbery said. “Didn’t think anything was over the line. I thought the puck was loose in there. He’s great at the net front. He takes a high hit and draws a penalty, gets us a power play.”
Carbery has spoken about Leonard’s development at length during this year’s training camp, urging the 2023 first-round pick to focus more on the small details that make him a unique player, rather than goals and assists.
“I’m trying to steer him away from that stuff,” Carbery said. “I get it. That comes with being a highly-touted Hobey Baker finalist, with all the accolades and what he’s done. You expect production, and that’s not what I’m expecting and hoping. There’s things inside of his game that I want to try to help him ingrain these habits.”
To both’s credit, Leonard has scored both of his goals since Carbery made those comments.
After playing 17 combined regular-season and playoff games last year, notching just one goal, Leonard also believes he’ll be much more comfortable this year after having a full preseason with the club.
“[I’m] just holding onto pucks a little bit,” Leonard said Thursday. “I feel like at the end of last year, I was rushing a little bit. Slowing it down a little bit and trusting myself a little bit more to make some of those plays that I know I’m capable of making. It’s always great to play in the preseason and feel it out a little bit, and hopefully get into the regular season games and show I can still do that.”
Leonard, who is moving into his own place in the DC area soon, is expected to be a key cog within the Capitals’ middle six forward group this season. The Capitals have one more preseason game on Saturday before beginning their regular season with Opening Night against the Bruins on October 8.
