The Washington Capitals picked Ryan Leonard in the first round when they went up at eighth overall. You’ve seen our reaction and our grade. Now let’s check out Caps Twitter and a couple of media folks that cover the team to see how they reacted.
Noah aka NHL Draft expert @capsboybebop tweeted:
The Caps had 2 picks in the first round and they walk away with:
Ryan Leonard
Rasmus Sandin
That’s pretty good.
the caps had 2 picks in the first round and they walk away with
— noah hockey stick emoji (@capsboybebop) June 29, 2023
ryan leonard
rasmus sandin
that’s pretty good
Noah has a good point. The Caps got Sandin initially from the Boston Bruins in the Garnet Hathaway and Marcus Johansson trade. The Toronto Maple Leafs included Sandin in the package because the Caps gave that first rounder the Bruins gave them to the Maple Leafs.
Travis Tuthill, cool dude, big Caps fan that you can follow at his accounts both @capstrav1s and @Capitals tweeted this about the pick:
“Ryan Leonard is a fantastic player who I believe could make an immediate impact for the Capitals. Despite all the Michkov drama, I am really happy with this pick. #ALLCAPS”
Ryan Leonard is a fantastic player who I believe could make an immediate impact for the Capitals. Despite all the Michkov drama, I am really happy with this pick. #ALLCAPS
— travis tuthill (@capstrav1s) June 29, 2023
@OVECHKIN (Not the real Alex Ovechkin of course) tweeted:
“He has that dawg in him, we’re back”.
he has that dawg in him, we're back pic.twitter.com/Ip26bsHtoP
— szoboszlai fan account (@OVECHKlN) June 29, 2023
DC Sports photographer Homer McFanboy tweeted:
“The Washington Capitals select right wing Ryan Leonard, who has been called a smaller Matthew Tkachuk and a low calorie Tom Wilson. If that’s what this kid becomes, D.C. will love him and the rest of the league will hate playing against him.”
The Washington Capitals select right wing Ryan Leonard, who has been called a smaller Matthew Tkachuk and a low calorie Tom Wilson. If that’s what this kid becomes, D.C. will love him and the rest of the league will hate playing against him.
— Homer McFanboy (@HomerMcFanboy) June 29, 2023
Luke Adomanis of Japers Rink notes: “A positive to getting Leonard is Caps will actually have someone to watch at World Juniors.”
A positive to getting Leonard is Caps will actually have someone to watch at World Juniors. https://t.co/XydNGSa1ww
— Luke Adomanis (@LukeAdomanis) June 29, 2023
Speaking of Tom Wilson, Tarik El Bashir of The Athletic confirmed when he talked to Leonard that he admires Willy. Look out Pittsburgh Penguins fans.
I jokingly asked if Leonard if could throw out a Capitals player that he admired. “Tom Wilson,” he chuckled. “Tom Wilson, definitely.” #Caps https://t.co/1XPaQ4kDVq
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) June 29, 2023
Sammi Silber of The Hockey News calls Leonard a “gritty forward” and also notes that “despite all the Michkov hype, going all in on Leonard is the right call and one that’ll pay off big time.”
The Capitals stayed put and, with the No. 8 pick, took Ryan Leonard from the U.S. National Team Development Program.
— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) June 29, 2023
Despite the Michkov hype, going all-in on Leonard is the right call and one that'll pay off big time.
Everything to know about Leonard:https://t.co/kppdalgOX7
So overall this Ryan Leonard guy seems like the right pick at number eight. I approve. Caps fans on Twitter approve. Some media members approve it. Now we get to watch him develop and hopefully have a good career here.