The Capitals' eighth-overall pick just keeps impressing.
The Washington Capitals got an impressive showing from two of their top American prospects at the World Junior Championships on Thursday, as Ryan Leonard scored while Ryan Chesley helped shut things down en route to a dominant 11-3 victory for Team USA over Switzerland.
Leonard scored the team's seventh goal, driving hard to the net and trying to get a shot off before a Swiss defenseman helped deflect the puck in. It marked the 18-year-old's first goal and second point of the tournament.
Not only did he score, but he had two shots and was also among the forward ice time leaders, logging 15 minutes over the course of the game. He was going hard to the net, making good decisions with the puck and using his size and speed to his advantage.
In addition to Leonard, Washington also saw defensive prospect Ryan Chesley put on an impressive performance while playing on the top pairing. He finished with 16:45 minutes and a plus/minus of plus-1 while helping Lane Hutson shut things down on the backend.
It's a promising sign for the Capitals, who are headed toward a youth movement with the veteran core getting older.
Leonard was taken eighth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, and the Capitals were quick to take him as they were surprised he was still on the board at that time. Chesley was a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
With each game played, Leonard looks more NHL-ready, and the Boston College freshman is showing that he could just be a case of "one and done" in the NCAA. Whether or not that's the route that D.C. wants to take, though, remains to be seen, as overdevelopment could be a smart play. Meanwhile, Chesley continues to get close and is in the midst of an impressive sophomore season with the University of Minnesota.