Photo: @BC_MHockey/X
Washington Capitals prospect Ryan Leonard has been named the Hockey East Rookie of the Week for the second time this season. Leonard had a three-point weekend against the then-ranked No. 1 Boston University Terriers. He scored the game’s first goal in the series opener, sending the sellout Conte Forum into a frenzy.
Leonard, Fowler recognized with Hockey East weekly awards after Eagles’ standout weekend.
📝 https://t.co/H2mkiOcBS1 pic.twitter.com/LCpQEqunOl
— BC Men’s Hockey (@BC_MHockey) January 29, 2024
Leonard holds the third position on the Eagles’ goal-scoring chart, having netted 13 times, and ranks fourth on the team with 29 points. Nationally, his 29 points place him at 27th, while his 13 goals secure him the 30th spot.
Lenny puts it right under the glove 😮💨
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— BC Men’s Hockey (@BC_MHockey) January 27, 2024
From Boston College
Two Boston College men’s hockey freshmen earned Hockey East weekly awards following a home-and-home sweep of No. 1 Boston University in the Battle of Comm Ave. Jacob Fowler (Melbourne, Fla.) earned Stop It Goaltender of the Week, while Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass.) was named the Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week.
The awards marked the third and second honors of the season for each, respectively. It also marks the fifth week BC players have earned two or more awards.
Fowler totaled 58 saves and a .935 save percentage against the top-ranked Terriers. He made 26 saves in a 4-1 win on Friday night, including 13 saves in a scoreless first period. On Saturday, Fowler kept BU off the board early, as the BC offense didn’t get its first shot off until over five minutes into the game. He contributed to the penalty kill’s 5-for-6 effort, including five saves on one PK in the second period with a one-goal lead on his way to a 32-save night.
Leonard totaled three points and finished the weekend with a +4 on the ice. He broke through for the first goal of the night, sending Conte Forum into an uproar, on a shot from inside the right circle. He later assisted on BC’s game-winning goal and added another assist on the game-winning goal in game two at BU on Saturday night.
The Eagles visit UMass Lowell on Friday night for a 7:15 p.m. contest before the 71st Beanpot begins Monday, Feb. 5 at TD Garden.
By Jacob Cheris
I watched both the games last weekend. Leonard is an excellent prospect, but he needs to stay in college for at least another year. His point totals are a bit misleading, because he really benefits from playing with Smith and Perrault.
Interesting that the NESN broadcasters were comparing him to Marchand — they were quick to point out that he was not Marchand (he’s much taller, but then again most people are taller than Marchand) but he plays with a similar edge to his game. That’s one reason that he needs to stay in college and get stronger, because he still looks like a teenager physically, and he’s gonna get in a LOT of fights in the NHL, particularly early in his career. A couple of years and 20-25 lbs of muscle will really help him.
He will eventually fit in very nicely with the Caps.
I disagree that his point totals are misleading. Yes of course he benefits from having good linemates, but after watching a fair number of his games at BC, seeing all of his wjc games, he is a point generator in his own right. We comp him to Tom Wilson because that’s a familiar point of reference but he has much more of a scoring and playmaking touch to him. He isn’t creative to the level of Smith or Perreault but he knows how to open the ice to make a play happen, or outwork the defense to the goal.
Plus as to his physicality, he can take a lot of abuse, I don’t disagree muscle will help but he’s already very capable of taking a lot of whacks from other players.
Leonard is also a much better skater than Wilson. Wilson has some straight-ahead speed but not much lateral agility. He’s a train, not a sports car. Leonard has much better lateral movement.
Taking a lot of abuse at the college level is not the same as being able to win battles in the NHL — there’s a huge step up for any college player, and few underclassmen can transition easily from college to the NHL (except Makar and maybe Fantilli, who are exceptions).
Leonard just needs to mature and keep working in the weight room, which he definitely will in a program like BC’s. He’s in the right place right now, though I’m guessing BU doesn’t agree.
Ahoy Jacob C and Jon S
As the best college-talent evaluators in all of NHL journalism … I’m ready for a Ryan Leonard evaluation: Ready for the AHL? Needs another year in Boston? Can he “bulk up” after turning pro?
Gosh he’s a wild one. Reminds me more of Dale Hunter than Wilson ….. but with an Ovechkin-like snipe. Can’t wait til he and Cristall and some others show up to improve the lukewarm Dishwater Capitals
Appreciate the kind words haha. I think he needs another year at BC. Wouldn’t surprise me if he comes over after this year, but the Caps aren’t in any rush to bring him over. He does need to work on his d-zone puck management however which is vital in the pros.
Thanks Jacob! The Caps’ “cupboard” is not bare