With just under two weeks remaining before the 2023 NHL Draft, it’s crunch time for analyzing potential picks for the Detroit Red Wings. One player that I believe would be in the selection range for the Red Wings at ninth overall is Ryan Leonard. This 18-year-old forward has what it takes to be a success at the NHL level and sell a lot of jerseys while doing so.
The main downside is that Leonard might end up getting snagged before the Red Wings have a chance to take him at ninth overall. His draft stock shot up this summer after the U18 Men’s World Championship in which he alongside fellow draft candidate Will Smith put on a show. When the main downside of drafting a player is that he might be too far out of reach, you know you’re looking at a very talented and promising individual.
All this being said, Leonard is personally my favorite pick for the Red Wings at ninth overall, if he isn’t already gone by then. His personality is that of a hard worker who won’t stop until he wins and that paired with on-ice skill and tenacity that is uncommon for a player this young. I also feel confident saying that his floor is a bottom-six NHL forward which is a great “worst-case scenario” for a first-round draft pick.
More Quotes
“He’s [Leonard] one of the most talented skaters in this draft, an inside-driven scorer who can beat opponents with his hands, shot, and passing skill in equal measures, all while maintaining a clean defensive conscience. Put another way: The type of player you win with when the games matter the most.” – Elite Prospects 2023 NHL Draft Guide
“He’s a big, strong kid and he’s got a little bit of a mean streak in him, which I like. He loves to rip pucks and he’s powerful, and he’ll go and finish hits, and he’s going to the net. He’s the sandpaper, the guy who can get in there and be the physical guy who can also rip it” – Brendan Buckley (from “How Ryan Leonard’s ‘bulldog’ mentality pushed him to the top of the 2023 NHL Draft,” The Athletic, January 17, 2023).
“Leonard will use a mixture of crossovers, edges that retain speed and quality power stride extensions to get separation from an attacker. The separation allows him to drives to the net and finds a gap to exploit. But, not only does Leonard find a gap, he will manipulate the goaltender by skating towards the short side and having the goaltender commit to the short side. At that point, he will leverage his handling to get the puck around the goaltender and into the back of the net.” – Josh Tessler, Smaht Scouting
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