Ryan Leonard Reflects on Surreal NHL Debut Amidst Ovechkin‘s Record Chase
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ryan Leonard’s first NHL goal arrived during a historic moment in hockey, a whirlwind experience he’s still processing nearly six months later. The Washington Capitals forward recalls the disbelief of scoring while witnessing alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky‘s all-time goals record.
“It still doesn’t sit,” Leonard told reporters Wednesday. ”It’s just a story you can tell for provided that you’re alive,the pictures are just crazy… It’s just so cool that I was here for though many days that was – even [ovechkin] treated me like I’d been here all year.” Leonard, who was still enrolled at Boston College just days before his NHL debut on April 5, 2025, scored his first career goal in a game overshadowed by Ovechkin’s impending milestone.The moment was acknowledged by Gretzky himself, who congratulated Leonard in the post-game locker room. ”Congratulations on your first goal,” gretzky reportedly said while shaking Leonard’s hand, according to the NHL’s Twitter feed. “895 more and you can pass [Ovechkin].”
Leonard described the experience as a stark contrast to the pressure he felt entering the league mid-season. ”I feel like a completely different player out there now,” he said. “I feel like last year maybe [I was] a little bit more timid out there, jumping in an crucial part (of the season).You don’t really want to mess up and everyone tells you to skate free but sometimes it’s a little bit harder when the games and stakes are that high.”
The forward has kept a stick from Ovechkin’s record-breaking game as a personal memento, joining several other Capitals players who preserved souvenirs from the historic night. As the Capitals prepare for the 2025-26 season, Leonard is projected to play on the third line, potentially centered by connor McMichael, after demonstrating meaningful progress during the team’s playoff run as the Eastern Conference’s top seed. He aims to secure a permanent roster spot and continue developing his game.
