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Dmitry Orlov, Washington Capitals (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Capitals Sign Ryan Leonard to 3-Year Entry-Level Contract

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Christopher Babos | Last updated Mar 31, 2025 3:45 PM ET

The Washington Capitals have signed Ryan Leonard to his three-year entry-level contract. The 20-year-old center was the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and has dominated non-NHL competition over the last two years at Boston College. The Eagles were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by Denver in the quarterfinal round on Monday.

Conveniently, the newest Capitals forward will get to meet his new mates in a familiar setting. Washington is in Boston for a meeting with the Bruins tomorrow night at TD Garden. Head coach Spencer Carbery will need to figure out where to insert this high-performing college athlete into his Presidents’ Trophy-contending lineup. Washington has nine games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season.

Positive Development at Boston College

After being drafted by Washington, Leonard played at Boston College in the NCAA for two seasons, recording 109 points in 78-career games. Last year, in his freshman season, Leonard recorded 60 points in 41 games, but Boston College was shut out in the NCAA Championship game by Denver.

The Washington Capitals have signed forward Ryan Leonard to a three-year entry-level contract. Leonard, the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, led the NCAA in goals (30) and game-winning goals (9) and ranked 10th in the country in points (49) this season. pic.twitter.com/1L3noAar85
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) March 31, 2025

Leonard tinkered with the idea of turning pro last summer but opted for another season in Massachusetts, where he continued to improve as one of the best players outside of the NHL. In his sophomore campaign, Leonard led the NCAA in goals (30) and game-winning goals (nine). The ending of the story was familiar: Boston College lost to Denver, except this time, that gut-wrenching loss came prior to the NCAA’s Frozen Four in St. Louis this year.

The American teenager also received the chance to represent his country on the international stage over the past few seasons. Leonard helped lead Team USA to back-to-back gold medals at the World Junior Championship with 16 points over 14 tournament games. He was selected as the captain of the gold medal-winning squad and earned tournament MVP honors last December.

Leonard Receives Honored Jersey Number

Alongside the contract announcement for the forward, the Capitals announced hw will wear the number-9 jersey. Leonard will be the 19th player to wear that digit for Washington, which includes some notable names around the NHL, including Television analyst Brian Engblom (1983-1984), Philadelphia Flyers President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones (1996), and Dainis Zubrus (2001-07). Zubrus recorded 216 points over six seasons in Washington and was the first Lithuanian player to play 1,000 games in the NHL.

Dave Kryskow was the first Capital to skate with number nine on his back. Kryskow recorded 24 points in 51 games for the Capitals before a February 1975 trade sent the winger to the Detroit Red Wings for Jack Lynch.

Dmitry Orlov, Washington Capitals (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Dmitry Orlov, the last player to wear the digit in Washington, is arguably the most successful individual to do so in Capitals history. The 33-year-old left-handed defenseman skates for the Carolina Hurricanes. He wore two different numbers for Washington over 11 seasons with the franchise. Between the 2011-2014 seasons, Orlov wore number 81. Orlov was injured at the 2014 IIHF World Championship and missed the entire 2014-15 NHL season. When he returned in 2016, he made the switch to the number nine, which he wore in Washington until he left in 2023. The 5-foot-11 defenseman has 26 points in 68 games for the Hurricanes this season.