{"id":131361,"date":"2025-09-04T04:16:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T04:16:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/131361\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T04:16:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T04:16:06","slug":"ryan-leonard-recalls-his-welcome-to-the-nhl-moment-holy-sht-thats-alex-ovechkin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/131361\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Leonard recalls his \u2018Welcome to the NHL\u2019 moment: \u2018Holy sh*t, that\u2019s Alex Ovechkin\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington Capitals forward Ryan Leonard had a rather special introduction to the NHL compared to most other rookies. While participating at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Wednesday<\/a>, he recalled the moment he realized he was amongst giants in the Caps locker room.<\/p>\n

\u201cWalked in and it\u2019s just me and Tom [Wilson] talking, and then obviously the bigger names [start arriving],\u201d he described to reporters<\/a>. \u201c[Jakob] Chychrun walks in, [Dylan] Strome walks in and then you just see the big man walking down and you\u2019re like, \u2018Holy sh*t, that\u2019s Alex Ovechkin.’\u201d<\/p>\n

Leonard joined the team for just nine games last year after departing Boston College and in that time he experienced more than some NHLers see in an entire career.<\/p>\n

The 20-year-old winger witnessed captain Alex Ovechkin pass Wayne Gretzky for most goals all-time and even tallied his first and only NHL marker in the same game Ovi tied said record<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gretzky himself took notice of Leonard\u2019s accomplishment, giving him kudos in the post-game locker room on a night that could\u2019ve easily overshadowed his moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations on your first goal,\u201d he told Leonard while shaking his hand.<\/a> \u201c895 more and you can pass [Ovechkin].\u201d<\/p>\n

On Sunday, Ryan Leonard was still enrolled at Boston College.<\/p>\n

Today, he’s getting personally congratulated by Wayne Gretzky after scoring his first NHL goal. \ud83e\udd79 pic.twitter.com\/cPQFN6jt2s<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NHL (@NHL) April 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Being a part of that history and the closing days of the chase are still moments Leonard hasn\u2019t been able to fully process yet but he\u2019s appreciative to have been fortunate enough be there.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt still doesn\u2019t sit,\u201d he told reporters Wednesday. \u201cIt\u2019s just a story you can tell for as long as you\u2019re alive, the pictures are just crazy\u2026 It\u2019s just so cool that I was here for however many days that was \u2013 even [Ovechkin] treated me like I\u2019d been here all year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many Caps players kept souvenirs from Ovechkin\u2019s record-breaking game<\/a>. Leonard even put his own stick from that day in his room as a personal memento.<\/p>\n

Landing in DC in the midst of Ovechkin\u2019s chase for Gretzky and the Caps\u2019 impending Stanley Cup Playoffs run as the Eastern Conference\u2019s top squad may have been a whirlwind, but Leonard\u2019s ready to reset this year having already gotten a taste of the NHL\u2019s wicked fast pace.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like a completely different player out there now,\u201d he said Wednesday. \u201cI feel like last year maybe [I was] a little bit more timid out there, jumping in an important part (of the season). You don\u2019t really want to mess up and everyone tells you to skate free but sometimes it\u2019s a little bit harder when the games and stakes are that high. But I feel great going into the year and I\u2019m really excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leonard is expected to slot in to the Capitals third line if everything goes well in camp and potentially be centered by Connor McMichael<\/a>. He played significant minutes down the stretch with Lars Eller and Andrew Mangiapane last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully [I\u2019ll] make the team to start and [I\u2019ll] just keep getting better and better and more comfortable every single game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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