A week ago, Ryan Leonard was attending classes at Boston College. Now, he could get a front-row seat to history.
After making his NHL debut in Boston on Tuesday, Leonard is set to play his first home game at Capital One Arena on Friday as the Capitals prepare to take on the Chicago Blackhawks. Leonard’s first chance to play in front of the Caps’ faithful directly coincides with the possible end of Alex Ovechkin’s chase for Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, with Ovechkin just three goals away from no. 895.
Leonard, who grew up watching Ovechkin play, could still hardly believe his now-teammate could soon break a once-thought unbreakable record.
“I don’t get it, honestly,” Leonard said Friday. “I mean, just the way he’s scored. It’s so fun to watch. He was an idol of mine growing up, and just to be in the same locker room now, it’s just a dream come true.”
Leonard was born in 2005, the same year Ovechkin made his NHL debut. Now, the two are sharing the ice as the Capitals look to create momentum over the final seven games of the regular season heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Leonard says he’s just trying to soak it all in.
“[I’m] really just trying to embrace it,” he said. “Not a lot of guys get to say that they’re in these shoes right now. Not really trying to take a moment for granted and just have fun with all of it.”
The 20-year-old right winger has two NHL games under his belt already, averaging 14:59 of ice time against the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes in back-to-back contests on Tuesday and Wednesday. He threw three hits in each contest and recorded his first career shot on goal against the Hurricanes.
Leonard added that he’s excited to finally get to play in front of a crowd that has been anticipating his arrival for nearly two years.
“It should be a lot of fun,” Leonard said. “All I’ve heard is good things about the environment there, so I’m really excited for tonight.”
According to the 2025 Hobey Baker Award finalist, adjusting from college to professional play has left him a little starstruck. As a college player, Leonard was unable to take part in any preseason or exhibition games with the Capitals, unlike fellow prospects from Europe or the CHL, and he’s still getting used to playing against guys he once only saw on a screen.
The lack of experience has been daunting for Leonard, but he’s proven to be a quick learner. Head coach Spencer Carbery praised the 2023 first-round selection for his effort in the Caps’ 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes, calling him “one of our best players on the ice.”
“[It’s] just the pace, honestly,” Leonard said. “It’s more just like treating every shift with more respect. You’re going out with guys, you’re line matching — like holy crap, I’m going against these [guys].”
He elaborated on the difficult adjustment process when describing a reflective moment he had with new roommate Pierre-Luc Dubois on Thursday night.
“I even said to Dubie last night, we were watching a little bit of the Bruins and Canadiens’ game, and I was like, ‘I still can’t put this into words. I’ve played in that league two games already,’” Leonard said. “It’s just weird to think about now. But yeah, it’s more just getting more comfortable. Trusting myself a little bit more.”
Leonard will be facing a fellow 2023 first-round pick — No. 1 overall, to be exact — in Chicago’s Connor Bedard on Friday. The 19-year-old centerman is in his second NHL campaign and currently on a three-game point streak.
The matchup between the two high picks and the next chapter in Ovechkin’s chase of Gretzky will get underway at 7 pm.
