John Leonard (ice hockey)

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.^[1] 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.^[2] In his third year at UMass, Leonard was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and lead all NCAA players in goals, with 27.^[3]

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.^[4] 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.^[5] Leonard posted two points in his debut, assisting on goals by both his linemates, helping the Sharks to a 4–3 shootout victory.^[5] His first goal came in a 3–2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on February 15, 2021.^[6]

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.^[7] On July 18, 2022, Leonard was signed as a restricted free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Predators for the 2022–23 season.^[8] 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.^[9] He got into six games with Nashville^[9] and scored his first goal (the game winner) in his first game for the team against Sergei Bobrovsky on March 2, 2023, in a 2–1 win over the Florida Panthers.^[9][10] 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.^[11]

Leonard signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes on July 3, 2023.^[9] He attended the Coyotes' 2023 training camp but was placed on waivers. After going unclaimed, he was assigned to Arizona's AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners to start the 2023–24 season.^[12] He was recalled by Arizona on March 12, 2024, after an injury to Barrett Hayton.^[13][14] Leonard made his Coyotes debut on March 14 versus the Detroit Red Wings.^[15] 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.^[16]

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.^[17] 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.^[18]

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.^[19]

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^[20] His father, John Sr., was an assistant coach for the UMass Minutemen basketball team between 2001 and 2005.^[1]