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

[Cush]

scored again

 

[The Crypto Guy]

On pace for just 46 points this season after scoring 60 last season. No points in the last 3. Not the type of offensive season you were hoping for when he went back to college for another year.

 

[Dr John Carlson]

Wasn't he named Player of the Month for November?

Hater alert!

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Wasn't he named Player of the Month for November?

Hater alert!

That doesnt change the fact he is on pace for a much worse offensive season…..

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think one takeaway is that BC does not have the offensive firepower of last season. Not only did Smith leave, but also Gauthier. Having both of them gave the lineup so much more depth and firepower. Hagens can replace one of them, but the replacement for the other is basically two Freshman, Stiga and Letourneau, who are good players but not top 5 picks like Gauthier and Smith were.

Leonard recently hasn’t been playing on a line with Perreault or Hagens. I think all of their numbers are suffering a little from the need to balance out the lineup more. It would be better for all of their scoring to run those three as the first line, but then you are asking questions about if it’s a one line team.

Leonard might suffer even more than the others because he’s more of a complimentary type of forward (a very good one) than a true playmaking driver.

 

[wickedwitch]

I think one takeaway is that BC does not have the offensive firepower of last season. Not only did Smith leave, but also Gauthier. Having both of them gave the lineup so much more depth and firepower. Hagens can replace one of them, but the replacement for the other is basically two Freshman, Stiga and Letourneau, who are good players but not top 5 picks like Gauthier and Smith were.

Leonard recently hasn’t been playing on a line with Perreault or Hagens. I think all of their numbers are suffering a little from the need to balance out the lineup more. It would be better for all of their scoring to run those three as the first line, but then you are asking questions about if it’s a one line team.

Leonard might suffer even more than the others because he’s more of a complimentary type of forward (a very good one) than a true playmaking driver.

I think Leonard's learning how to be "the guy" on a line for the first time in several years. He's been creating tons of chances so I'm not worried.

 

[Wieters]

I think one takeaway is that BC does not have the offensive firepower of last season. Not only did Smith leave, but also Gauthier. Having both of them gave the lineup so much more depth and firepower. Hagens can replace one of them, but the replacement for the other is basically two Freshman, Stiga and Letourneau, who are good players but not top 5 picks like Gauthier and Smith were.

This is true, but I do think it could change.

Through 15 games, BC has scored 49 goals this year versus 57 last year through the same amount of games. So yes, they are scoring fewer goals this year. There are a few reasons for that in my eyes.

For one, BC has played the most difficult schedule in college hockey. Seven of their fifteen games have been against teams that are in the top-ten in college hockey by average goals allowed per game (Michigan State x2, Maine x2, Western Michigan, and St. Cloud x2). So they haven't had many cupcake games to rack up points.

Another reason for the slower start is because when Smith/Leonard/Perreault debuted in college last season, they came in with established chemistry in a way that is pretty rare in the NCAA. That likely resulted in more immediate production than you would expect from college freshmen. Hagens did not have that history with Leonard/Perreault.

BC is also a very good team defensively this season. They haven't given up a single goal on the PK all season (the only team in the NCAA to do that), and they have given up 28 goals this year versus 34 last year. So they're just playing in lower scoring games and don't get into as many shootouts.

I think once we get into the second half of the season, you'll see the scoring production go up, which should help Leonard/Perreault in their cases for the Hobey and Hagens in his for the 1OA.

 

[Cush]

 

[wickedwitch]

The PP assist is gorgeous. Obviously, the sauce on the pass itself was amazing, but the way he created space for Perreault was also noteworthy.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[Melkor]

So give me an update on the dude? Seems like the season is not as productive for him as people expected.

 

[43sfriends]

He looks like Oshie light to me, doesn't have the high end puck skills but definitely more of a pest. Can't stay on his feet like Oshie too but it doesn't stop him from being effective.

 

[Random Comment]

He looks like Oshie light to me, doesn't have the high end puck skills but definitely more of a pest. Can't stay on his feet like Oshie too but it doesn't stop him from being effective.

That would be disappointing. I have him performing much better stat wise.

 

[Dr John Carlson]

I don't see the Oshie comparisons at all. The only similarities are his nationality, handedness, and the team he was drafted to.

 

[wetcoast]

I think Leonard's learning how to be "the guy" on a line for the first time in several years. He's been creating tons of chances so I'm not worried.

I think that the Capitals got a steal with Leonard as he is going to be an excellent long time top 6 NHL player.

He is just a complete player and brings so much to the table even if he deosn't have sexy stats.

I think that the Capitals have the best pipeline that no one is talking about.

 

[wetcoast]

I don't see the Oshie comparisons at all. The only similarities are his nationality, handedness, and the team he was drafted to.

Player comps generally suck and while Oshie is more physical I wouldn't be surprised if Leonard turn out as the better overall player.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

• Captained his team to World Junior Gold.
• Ended with 5+5=10 points in 7 games.
• Won Forward of the Tournament.
• Won Player of the Tournament.

Had a terrific tournament. As if he needed to validate anything, he most definitely did.

He's made so many improvements the last two years that have turned me from a skeptic that he was more than middle 6 winger to pretty certain he'll be a top line winger.

He always had the speed, power, puck-handling, shot and motor, but he's added a lot of the finesse elements that were once missing. His passing has improved so much. He now makes a lot more of the efficient decisions with the puck than trying to play superhero. The type of chemistry he has with Smith and Perreault (and now Hagens too) is the type of thing I never would've expected. I didn't think he was smart enough to read so well and quickly off of a line-mate, but he's gelled very well with a bunch of line-mates the past few years.

You never know, he may be a key piece for the Caps the next 2-3 playoff runs in getting Ovechkin a second Cup, and he should be one of the foundations of their next core.

 

[Lou Sassole]

He looks like Oshie light to me, doesn't have the high end puck skills but definitely more of a pest. Can't stay on his feet like Oshie too but it doesn't stop him from being effective.

He's a way better skater than Oshie, much faster, but doesn't have Oshie's hands(who does?).

 

[PAZ]

• Captained his team to World Junior Gold.
• Ended with 5+5=10 points in 7 games.
• Won Forward of the Tournament.
• Won Player of the Tournament.

Had a terrific tournament. As if he needed to validate anything, he most definitely did.

He's made so many improvements the last two years that have turned me from a skeptic that he was more than middle 6 winger to pretty certain he'll be a top line winger.

He always had the speed, power, puck-handling, shot and motor, but he's added a lot of the finesse elements that were once missing. His passing has improved so much. He now makes a lot more of the efficient decisions with the puck than trying to play superhero. The type of chemistry he has with Smith and Perreault (and now Hagens too) is the type of thing I never would've expected. I didn't think he was smart enough to read so well and quickly off of a line-mate, but he's gelled very well with a bunch of line-mates the past few years.

You never know, he may be a key piece for the Caps the next 2-3 playoff runs in getting Ovechkin a second Cup, and he should be one of the foundations of their next core.

Ya Leonard is a good one, the ability to gel with teammates is very underrated. I think he'll always be better riding shotgun than he will be driving a line, but he won't look out of place if he needs to.

Essentially, the way Leonard plays is the way Easton Cowan thinks he plays.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

weird player lol

 

[qc14]

He's a way better skater than Oshie, much faster, but doesn't have Oshie's hands(who does?).

I think the comps to Oshie are that they both are pests/grinders without being big or dirty. They also are obviously both American, and do have a tendency to fall down a lot and get lit up by a hit fairly frequently.

In terms of offensive style though, I think he's much closer to Konecny or Garland, or even a Hagel or B Tkachuk than Oshie.

Ya Leonard is a good one, the ability to gel with teammates is very underrated. I think he'll always be better riding shotgun than he will be driving a line, but he won't look out of place if he needs to.

I disagree with this, even if he's not been scoring as many points to me he's been the clear driver of both the Smith and Hagens versions of the BC line and the driver of that same line at the WJC.

 

[Chimaera]

The question on being a driver is his size. He’s not disadvantaged in the WJC or College being smaller. In the NHL? I dunno. He’s gotta keep getting stronger to play the impact game he tries

 

[qc14]

The question on being a driver is his size. He’s not disadvantaged in the WJC or College being smaller. In the NHL? I dunno. He’s gotta keep getting stronger to play the impact game he tries

I agree he will need to get stronger and maybe pick his spots for physicality a bit better, but he is 100% disadvantaged by his size in the NCAA too and that has not really stopped him.

 

[Chimaera]

I agree he will need to get stronger and maybe pick his spots for physicality a bit better, but he is 100% disadvantaged by his size in the NCAA too and that has not really stopped him.

The NCAA to NHL gap in size is still massive. Men and still a bunch of kids in some situations.

We aren’t disagreeing but the grind (even with the NHL limiting some contact) is going to be the question. From what I’ve seen, albeit not a ton, he really does throw himself around at times. He took punishment going to the slot. That’s fine, but the toll to do that week in and week out is a man’s game still.

 

[Svedu]

Disgusting player. Really filthy one. Has that Marchand attitude in the way of winning goes before absolutely everything. Morals, what's that?

But... I see him being a good top6 for the Caps. His will is big and he's really intense and noticeable on ice. On the other hand, NHL is a lot more physical, if he can't turn up his strength and sissy attitude he could struggle for his first years.