Capitals rookie Ryan Leonard is feeling confident through the start of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Amber Searls — Imagn Images) Select an Image
WASHINGTON — Ryan Leonard loves a big stage.
It's no secret that the Washington Capitals rookie welcomes the bright lights, the high-stakes hockey that comes with the spring. That said, the Stanley Cup Playoffs have been the perfect setting as he starts to ramp up his game at the perfect time for D.C.
"I think for a young player to play in his first NHL playoff game can be daunting, can be nerve-wracking, and I thought he handled it real well," coach Spencer Carbery said. "He's been on a journey now over the last month... he's been through a lot."
Just a few weeks ago, Ryan Leonard was in school, focused on getting Boston College as far as he could in the NCAA Tournament and turning in quizzes. Then, overnight, he was headed to the NHL, thrown onto the pro scene to bolster the Capitals' lineup down the stretch.
"Everything's a little bit quicker here and professional," Leonard said of the transition. "You're playing three, four games in a week rather than two, back-to-back nights. So it's a little bit different, just like your day off and how you prepare. But these last however many days or how many weeks I've been up here, it's helped me a lot."
After finishing the regular season with a goal — an empty-netter against the Chicago Blackhawks — through nine games, Leonard's been able to take his game to a whole new level to kick off the postseason as he's starting to embrace the speed and style of the Show.
Through Games 1 and 2, the 20-year-old winger leads Washington in Corsi-for percentage (63.04), shots-for percentage (68.18) and expected goals-for percentage (82.40) at 5-on-5, while being a force to be reckoned with in the offensive zone.
Capitals rookie Ryan Leonard leads forwards in hits taken this series. (Geoff Burke — Imagn Images) Select an Image
Leonard has been using his speed and grit to his advantage and playing with pace, all while helping generate pressure and high-quality chances. While he and his third line with Lars Eller and Andrew Mangiapane continue to try and find ways to finish, they're getting their share of opportunities and making it hard on Montreal's defense.
For Leonard, it's all about confidence.
"I feel a lot better with the puck, making a lot more players and trusting myself," Leonard said. "Finding that fine line when to make those plays. I definitely feel a lot more comfortable within the series."
Leonard picked up his first career playoff point with an assist in Washington's 3-1 win over the Canadiens on Wednesday, and as the Capitals head north, the team is looking for him to continue to lead the charge and earn his minutes.
"The NHL, it's such a tough league for guys to step in this time of year. It's not an easy thing to do at all. At 25 years old, at 20 years old, the age he's at. So he's earned his opportunity inside of our lineup, and he's earned the opportunity to be out there with our guys," Carbery said. "I just expect him only to get better and better and better and better, even as games go by, to your point, and just get more experience."