Draft Prospect Profile: Ryan Leonard

One-third of a dominant top line for Under-18 World Championship gold medalist Team USA squad, forward Ryan Leonard has risen into the top 10 in various 2023 Entry Draft projections. It is by no means a stretch to rank Leonard among the contenders to be selected by the Flyers with the seventh overall pick, assuming he is still available at that point. The Montreal Canadiens are rumored to be considering Leonard with the fifth overall selection. The Arizona Coyotes pick sixth.

As a member of the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP), Leonard was placed on a line with fellow top-end 2023 NHL Draft prospects Will Smith and Gabe Perrault. Each member contributed something special to complement the other two. Smith was the most creative offensively and perhaps the best pure talent with the puck. Perrrault was a prolific playmaker who set a single-season NTDP point-scoring record. And Leonard?

"Leonard was the worker bee on that line. He is a relentless forechecker and was the best two-way player. He has a nonstop motor and is very strong physically. But he also has plenty of skill, with a natural finishing touch. His skill was kind of under the radar until the U18s, at least in some circles. Not now," said an NHL amateur scout.

"I'll put it this way. Leonard has the soul of a checker and the hands of a goal scorer. He has one hell of a shot. That's an appealing combination."

At the U18s this year, Leonard racked up eight goals and 17 points in seven games.Before that, he played 57 games with USNTDP, and compiled 94 points (51 goals, 43 assists) including 11 tallies and nine helpers in 17 games against USHL competition.

Although Leonard is not particularly tall (listed at 5-foot-11), he is exceptionally strong and plays "a big man's game". From a two-way standpoint, Leonard is among a small group of forwards -- which also include the likes of Dalibor Dvorsky, WHL center Nate Danielson, and Sweden's David Edstrom -- who are considered to be the most projectable as above-average NHL forwards on top of being point producers.

Another favorable trait that has helped Leonard move up in Draft projections: his skating. Leonard is a significantly above-average skater, whom many scouts rank among the four or five best skaters in the Draft. Among the USNTDP candidates for the Draft, only Oliver Moore receives wider acclaim from a speed and agility standpoint.

Lastly, in terms of sheer competitiveness, Leonard has few peers in this year's Draft class.

"He does almost everything above average even in a deep Draft, but if there's just one thing I'd say sets him apart is that his compete level is off the charts. Very high character kid, and he hates to lose a puck battle, much less a game," the scout said.

Next season, Flyers 2022 first-round pick Cutter Gauthier will be a sophomore at Boston College. He'll be joined on the Eagles squad by incoming freshmen Leonard, Smith and Perrault, as the entire NSTDP top line has been recruited to attend BC.

In the long haul, Leonard potentially could move back to his original position, center. Alternately, he has been so effective on the wing that perhaps the right handed shooter stays put at that position. He's versatile enough to play any forward position.

BASIC INFORMATION

Position: Right Wing (can also play center)
Height:5-foot-11
Weight: 190 pounds
Shoots: Right
2022-23 Team: USNTDP
2022-23 Stats: 57 GP, 51G, 41 A, 92 PTS, 46 PIM, +77, 51% CF, 17:18 TOI

RANKINGS: Central Scouting #5 North American, Bob McKenzie #7, Craig Button #12, The Hockey News #7, Recrutes #4, McKeen's #8, Chris Peters #6, Daily Faceoff #9

PROS:
1) One of the best-skating forwards in this year's Draft class.
2) Tenacious on the boards and has a nose for the net.
3) One of the most defensively responsible forwards on the Draft.
4) Heavy shot and a natural finishing touch.
5) Versatility, work ethic and competitive drive.

CONCERNS:
1) How much of Leonard's offensive production was driven by Smith and Perrault?
2) Although powerfully built, he isn't particularly big. Some fears of injury risk.
3) Above average in virtually every facet but some have questioned his creativity.
4) He was not a prolific point producer in NTDP before the 2022-23 season
5) Is he a projected future star in his own right or a high-end complementary player?