The 19-year-old forward from Amherst, Massachusetts captained the USA in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship this year and led them to their first ever back-to-back gold medals in the competition. The captain was the Washington Capitals’ 8th overall draft pick in the 2023 NHL draft and is currently in his sophomore season at Boston College.
Leonard was on the 2024 World Junior’s team that won gold in Sweden, along with nine other players that returned this year. In last year's competition, Leonard had 3 goals and 3 assists in 7 games. This year, he had 5 goals and 5 assists in 6 games and was named tournament MVP.
The USA have a total of 7 World Junior gold medals; Leonard has won 2 of those.
Leonard also represented the USA at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Prague, Czechia, alongside former US National Development Team and Boston College teammate Will Smith.
The Boston College forward was named an alternate captain for the Eagles in October. He made history for the school last year when he scored 31 goals as a freshman, the most scored by a student in their first year at the school.
The Massachusetts native played on a line alongside Will Smith and Gabe Perreault last season, as well as at the 2024 World Juniors tournament. Becoming one of the most productive lines in Boston College history, they were nicknamed the ‘BC Line’ during the 2024 World Juniors tournament. Leonard had 31 goals and 29 assists in 41 games as an Eagle last season. This season he has 13 goals and 7 assists in 19 games. The Smith, Leonard, Perreault line combined for a total of 191 points for the Eagles last season.
With Smith leaving to play in the NHL this season, 18-year-old James Hagens moved into his place on the line with Leonard and Perrault. The three also played on the same line together at the 2025 World Juniors tournament.
The Capitals prospect elected to stay at Boston College this season instead of signing with Washington for the 2024 playoffs. The forward wanted the opportunity to win a national title with the school after losing to the University of Denver in the Frozen Four finals last season, and was also eyeing the potential of winning back-to-back at the World Juniors. He has already achieved one of those titles, and with Boston College currently ranked 2nd in Division I Men’s College Hockey, he is potentially on the road to completing both goals.
An exciting, gritty, and versatile player with a wicked shot who by many accounts is NHL ready, he will be an interesting one to watch for the Capitals. He might be a fresh, young burst of energy on an aging Capitals team.
Edited by Neha Grewal
Comments