Ryan Leonard

Yet another of the USA Developmental team prospects who shuttled between the three USA  programs (U-17, U-18, and USHL). His coming out party was the Hlinka-Gretsky Cup where he exploded on the seen as fast, high energy, sure-handed attacker who needs little time to impact the game with a goal or quick twitch work in the heavy areas of the attack zone. From a long linage of athletes, he possibly may be the strongest and most powerful player both in lower and upper body strength, and is a pure sniper and shooter. He had 20 points in 26 games for the national program's U17 team. He also saw time with the U18 team, potting 16 goals and 23 points in 36 games. He was asked to play all three forward positions in his journey, and I think that has increased his hockey readiness to so many different attack situations that he is so comfortable at using his motor to aggressively go after puck and to quickly pass them if he opportunity closes. He moves. He reads. He jumps up in the battle areas and he has a shot and is one of the top goal scorers in the draft crop.Makes all these good plays between coverage. He shoots the puck heavy and can dish the checks out heavy. Not sure you can ask more in a prospect that is bit under the radar and might end up available in the second half of the first round, if his named doesn't get called before that. Plays on the USA Development team's first line with LW Perrault and centre Will Smith.

                                                                         --Bill Płaczek-