F Ryan Leonard - Boston College, NCAA (2023, 8th, WSH)

[95snipes]

Very surprised he does not have a thread yet.

Thought he had an impressive U18 tournament. Good shot, good puck skills. Fit in very well as a U17 on a very good NTDP team.

Should be a 1st rounder next year. Deep and good draft, but I think we could be looking at a top 15 pick here.

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[Pavel Buchnevich]

He’s a great skater. And I like his effort. Plays good defense. Offensively he’s a little one dimensional. The puck skills and skating are elite, and he can shoot it, but that’s pretty much it. At least he also has size. He’s probably never going to drive an NHL line, but I think he’s a safe bet to be some type of complimentary winger in an NHL top 9.

Another slight worry I have is that a lot of his offense comes off the rush. That’s when you notice him.

 

[William H Bonney]

He deserved more ice time today. He can get a bit careless with his stick but he's a definite first round pick at this point.

 

[Goingintothe3rd]

Will be a solid winger maybe top 6 in the pros 5-6 years down road. Good speed, plays heavy and competes hard. Overall a balanced skill set that has lasting power in the chel. Late 1st or early 2nd.

 

[Patty Ice]

Sharks fantasy of playing on the same line with his brother and centered by Bordeleau.

 

[William H Bonney]

He's a Joel Farabee tier of prospect right now in my opinion. Safe first rounder in the 10-20 range unless his development stalls.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Sharks fantasy of playing on the same line with his brother and centered by Bordeleau.

I never put the 2 and 2 together that they were brothers. Makes sense now.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

5 goals, 6points in 2 games… strong start of the season for the kid.
I foresee him being a riser by the end of the year - just a lot to like about his game.

 

[Haanz]

5 goals, 6points in 2 games… strong start of the season for the kid.
I foresee him being a riser by the end of the year - just a lot to like about his game.

My favorite prospect for this upcoming draft. Agree that he should be a riser.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I like Leonard, but there are major holes in his game. He should have a good chance to be a complimentary winger in an NHL top 9. I’m skeptical he can be more than that. I think he could be a first round pick. Doubt he goes much later than early second round. Someone will bet on the skating, puck skills, and shot.

 

[William H Bonney]

Similar to Joel Farabee's upside and I think he'll go in a similar range

 

[rt]

Similar to Joel Farabee's upside and I think he'll go in a similar range

I think that’s a good comp. I’m a big fan of Leonard’s and I liked Farabee a lot in his draft year. Very high energy players who work hard, skate very well, and have just enough skill to play up in the line-up and compliment players who have better overall offensive tools.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think that’s a good comp. I’m a big fan of Leonard’s and I liked Farabee a lot in his draft year. Very high energy players who work hard, skate very well, and have just enough skill to play up in the line-up and compliment players who have better overall offensive tools.

Oliver Moore is closer to Farabee, if he hits his ceiling.

I can’t think of the best Leonard comparison, but more like Samu Tuomaala from the 2021 draft with better defense. He won’t get as many assists as Farabee does.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Oliver Moore is closer to Farabee, if he hits his ceiling.

I can’t think of the best Leonard comparison, but more like Samu Tuomaala from the 2021 draft with better defense. He won’t get as many assists as Farabee does.

I got a JG Pageau vibe in the U17 games I was able to catch last season.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I got a JG Pageau vibe in the U17 games I was able to catch last season.

I think Pageau’s more of a center and probably more of an assist guy. I can’t see him being a center. I don’t think he has the playmaking for that.

Best I can think of right now is Grabner with more stick skills and better shot. A few inches smaller and maybe a little slower. I wish the NHL season would start because I’d be better able to think of comparisons to current players, but he’s blazing fast, can stick handle great, pretty good shot. Not a playmaker. Has tunnel vision with the puck, but there are dumber players in the NHL. Really good motor.

I don’t think he has real first line or high second line NHL offense. It works against juniors because he’s so fast and can go right around junior players with his puck skills to create odd man rushes, but he doesn’t have the greatest skills at actually scoring points. He scores a lot of offense off the rush. I think it’ll be lessened against better defenders. He’ll score some, but I can’t see him topping 20 assists in an NHL season. I could be wrong. Would love to be.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I think Pageau’s more of a center and probably more of an assist guy. I can’t see him being a center. I don’t think he has the playmaking for that.

Best I can think of right now is Grabner with more stick skills and better shot. A few inches smaller and maybe a little slower. I wish the NHL season would start because I’d be better able to think of comparisons to current players, but he’s blazing fast, can stick handle great, pretty good shot. Not a playmaker. Has tunnel vision with the puck, but there are dumber players in the NHL. Really good motor.

I don’t think he has real first line or high second line NHL offense. It works against juniors because he’s so fast and can go right around junior players with his puck skills to create odd man rushes, but he doesn’t have the greatest skills at actually scoring points. He scores a lot of offense off the rush. I think it’ll be lessened against better defenders. He’ll score some, but I can’t see him topping 20 assists in an NHL season. I could be wrong. Would love to be.

Maybe Brian Gionta? alas,I agree - I see more of a third line player here - but I think after a big year for the USDP a team will draft him as high as the mid-first. He’s the type of guy where it’s rather easy to see that he will be an NHLer but maybe a bit of limited upside.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

 

[GermanSpitfire]

 

[Chainshot]

Second goal tonight and generally very impressed by his play against MTU.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Second goal tonight and generally very impressed by his play against MTU.

 

[William H Bonney]

Up to 17 points in 9 games.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

WHAT A GOAL

 

[William H Bonney]

He's being undervalued in a lot of draft rankings I've seen

 

[MichaelFarrell]

He's being undervalued in a lot of draft rankings I've seen

I have him ranked very high on my list. In a lot of games I’ve watch for the USNTDP, he’s been far and away the best player. It’s still really early, but I currently have him in my top 10 ahead of guys like Benson, Stramel, and Will Smith. That might be a hot take, but that’s just what I’ve seen this year.

Ryan Leonard is one of my favorite players in the draft. I’m admittedly extremely bias towards US prospects and the USNTDP, but I really think Leonard will be a player.

 

[rt]

I have him ranked very high on my list. In a lot of games I’ve watch for the USNTDP, he’s been far and away the best player. It’s still really early, but I currently have him in my top 10 ahead of guys like Benson, Stramel, and Will Smith. That might be a hot take, but that’s just what I’ve seen this year.

Ryan Leonard is one of my favorite players in the draft. I’m admittedly extremely bias towards US prospects and the USNTDP, but I really think Leonard will be a player.

I’m a huge Leonard booster myself. Glad I’m not alone.