John Leonard

John Gerard Leonard (born August 7, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Leonard was drafted in the sixth round, 182nd overall, by the San Jose Sharks in the 2018 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Leonard was originally first eligible to be drafted in 2016, but was not selected while playing for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League. After two years with the Gamblers, Leonard joined the University of Massachusetts Amherst ("UMass"), playing for their ice hockey team, the UMass Minutemen while studying Communications and Sport Management. While with the Minutemen, Leonard caught the attention of the San Jose Sharks, who drafted him in the sixth round, 182nd overall in the 2018 NHL entry draft despite not having any contact with Leonard during the predraft process. In his third year at UMass, Leonard was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and lead all NCAA players in goals, with 27.

On March 31, 2020, Leonard decided to forgo his final year of college eligibility and was signed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Sharks. Leonard made the opening night roster and made his NHL debut against the Arizona Coyotes on January 14, 2021, playing on a line with Evander Kane and Tomáš Hertl. Leonard posted two points in his debut, assisting on goals by both his linemates, helping the Sharks to a 4–3 shootout victory.

After his second full professional season within the Sharks organization, on July 8, 2022, Leonard was traded along with a 2023 third-round pick at the 2022 NHL entry draft to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Luke Kunin. On July 18, 2022, Leonard was signed as a restricted free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Predators for the season. He spent the majority of the season with Nashville's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, scoring 17 goals and 27 points in 67 games. He got into six games with Nashville At the end of the season, again a restricted free agent, he was not given a qualifying offer by Nashville and became an unrestricted free agent.

Leonard signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes on July 3, 2023. He was recalled by Arizona on March 12, 2024, after an injury to Barrett Hayton. Leonard made his Coyotes debut on March 14 versus the Detroit Red Wings. He scored his first goal with the Coyotes against Jake Oettinger in his fourth game, a 5–2 loss to the Dallas Stars on March 20.

As a free agent at the conclusion of his contract with the Coyotes, Leonard was unable to garner an NHL deal and was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Charlotte Checkers, the primary affiliate to the Florida Panthers, on July 2, 2024. In the 2024–25 season with the Checkers he was named to the league's Second All-Star Team after registering 61 points through 72 regular season games.

Following a breakout season offensively, Leonard secured an NHL contract as a free agent, agreeing to a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Detroit Red Wings on July 1, 2025.

Personal life Leonard was born on August 7, 1998, to parents John and Cindy Leonard. He has three siblings. His brother, Ryan, plays professional ice hockey for the Washington Capitals of the NHL His father, John Sr., was an assistant coach for the UMass Minutemen basketball team between 2001 and 2005.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2014–15 Springfield Cathedral High USHS-Prep 25 47 28 75 — — — — — — 2015–16 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 48 5 4 9 10 4 0 0 0 0 2016–17 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 58 19 15 34 20 — — — — — 2017–18 UMass-Amherst HE 33 13 15 28 10 — — — — — 2018–19 UMass-Amherst HE 40 16 22 40 24 — — — — — 2019–20 UMass-Amherst HE 33 27 10 37 8 — — — — — 2020–21 San Jose Sharks NHL 44 3 10 13 2 — — — — — 2020–21 San Jose Barracuda AHL 2 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 2021–22 San Jose Barracuda AHL 45 17 15 32 6 — — — — — 2021–22 San Jose Sharks NHL 14 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 2022–23 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 67 17 27 44 14 6 0 1 1 0 2022–23 Nashville Predators NHL 6 1 0 1 2 — — — — — 2023–24 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 63 12 20 32 24 — — — — — 2023–24 Arizona Coyotes NHL 6 1 0 1 0 — — — — — 2024–25 Charlotte Checkers AHL 72 36 25 61 22 18 8 6 14 18 2025–26 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 47 33 21 54 12 8 1 4 5 2 2025–26 Detroit Red Wings NHL 11 2 2 4 0 — — — — — NHL totals 81 8 13 21 4 — — — — —

Awards and honours Award or Honour Year College Second All-Star Team (East) 2019 First All-American Team (East) 2020 First All-Star Team (Hockey East) 2020 Three Stars Award (Hockey East) 2020 Best Forward (New England) 2020 Most Goals 2020 AHL Second All-Star Team 2025