#1 Ryan Leonard
This was a good pick by the Capitals in this year’s NHL Draft. I wanted Ivan Michkov at first but after finding out how his off the ice attitude made a Caps scout angry, I’m glad they went for Ryan Leonard.
Leonard was a standout for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under 18 team and was picked eighth overall. He’s 18 years old. He’s got the offensive skills and the physicality of a power forward. Some have went far to compare him to Tom Wilson.
He’s six foot and 192 pounds. Chris Patrick told NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti:
"“I’m not comparing him to Tom Wilson, but he’s got that kind of swagger. He’s willing to compete. He’s willing to get in guys’ faces. He’s willing to challenge guys.”"
He is going to suit up for Boston College this season so it’ll be a few years before we actually see Leonard don the Capitals red, white and blue. Gulitti projects him to arrive around the 2025 26 season.
That should give him ample time to get his education and adjust to bigger level hockey before he adjusts to even bigger levels in the AHL and NHL. This pick by the Capitals was a home run and he should be one of the bright spots in the dark post Alex Ovechkin days.