Ryan Leonard returns to ice for Capitals in no-contact jersey ahead of game against Maple Leafs

Ryan Leonard was back on the ice for the Washington Capitals on Thursday morning.

The 20-year-old winger, donning a light blue, no-contact jersey, participated in team drills for the first time since Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba injured Leonard’s shoulder and face with a hit on December 5. The Capitals later announced Leonard’s projected recovery timeline to be three to four weeks.

Leonard, who is still on injured reserve, has missed the past four games with his injuries. The Capitals are 1-2-1 without him.

“Yeah, it’s a positive step, for sure,” head coach Spencer Carbery said after the skate. “Him being out there skating with the guys, doing some stuff before, and then taking part in the morning skate.”

Leonard came out onto the ice ahead of his Capitals teammates and remained for the entirety of the skate. He took casual shots on the team’s goaltenders and stayed out to get more work in on practice goaltender Parker Milner. According to the team, Leonard had been skating at home while the Caps were on their recent road trip.

Two days after the injury, Leonard was spotted wearing a sling in the Capitals locker room during the team’s postgame celebration. The 2023 first-round pick has recorded 18 points (7g, 11a) in 29 games this season, which still ranks fourth among all NHL rookies.

Before getting injured just 4:38 of ice time into the game against the Ducks, Leonard had eight points (2g, 6a) in his last six games. Just two days prior, he had become the first rookie in the league this season to post a four-point game with two goals and two assists against the San Jose Sharks.

Leonard had also just been promoted to the team’s first power-play unit a few games before being injured, and the Capitals converted on four of their 16 chances with the rookie winger taking up the bigger role. They have scored just one power-play goal in their last 15 attempts without him.

If the Capitals’ original recovery timeline is accurate, Leonard should not be back on the ice for game action until the first week of January at the earliest.