The Washington Capitals signed top forward prospect Ryan Leonard to his three-year, entry-level deal, the team announced Monday.
He may make his NHL debut as soon as Tuesday against the Bruins in Boston, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan. His pact carries an average annual value of $950,000.
Leonard just finished his sophomore campaign at Boston College, leading the top-seeded Eagles with 49 points in 37 games and the NCAA at large with 30 goals. The program's season ended Sunday with a 3-1 loss to Denver in the quarterfinals, which punched the Pioneers' ticket to the Frozen Four.
He was riding a 17-game point streak in which he amassed 17 goals and 12 assists before being held off the scoresheet against Denver. Leonard was named a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which recognizes the top player in men's college hockey, earlier in March.
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery reached out to Leonard after the Eagles' loss.
"Proud of him, of the season that he's had but also the way he's conducted himself. ... Anytime you don't win the last game it's a tough feeling," Carbery said, according to Monumental Sports Network's Tarik El-Bashir. "Especially having played college hockey, you put a lot into that, and those one-and-done scenarios are tough. So, just there for him and we'll see where it goes."
Leonard starred at the 2025 World Junior Championship, earning the title of tournament MVP. He totaled five goals and 10 points in seven contests while captaining the United States to a gold-medal victory.
"He's a gamer, man," Carbery said of Leonard's performance at the time. "And that's why we're excited about his future in this organization. ... You can just feel how passionate he is and how bad he wants to win and how much he lays it on the line. Caps fans are going to get used to that for a long time to come."
The 20-year-old also helped the Americans finish atop the podium of the tourney in 2024, recording three goals and six points.
Washington selected Leonard with the eighth overall pick in 2023. He's joining a club in the running for the Presidents' Trophy, awarded to the league's top regular-season team, thanks to its 47-17-9 record.
The Capitals were the first club to clinch their spot in the playoffs this campaign, and they have nine games remaining on their schedule. They'll look to end a three-game losing streak versus Boston.