Amherst’s Ryan Leonard is expected to make his NHL debut on Tuesday in his home state. 

The Boston College star saw his collegiate season end in the Manchester Regional final against Denver on Sunday night, and the Washington Capitals — who used the eighth pick of the 2023 draft on Leonard — moved quickly to get him onto their squad as they gear up for a playoff run. 

The Capitals announced on Monday that they had signed Leonard to a three-year entry-level contract with an average annual value of $950,000. Leonard, who will wear No. 9, will join Washington immediately and is likely to make his NHL debut on Tuesday at TD Garden against the Boston Bruins, according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. 

Leonard is a big late season addition to Washington, which sits in first place in the Metropolitan Division and is the lone team in the Eastern Conference to already have clinched a playoff spot. The Caps have nine games remaining before the playoffs. 

In 78 games at BC over two years, Leonard — a 6 foot, 200 pound forward — produced 61 goals and 48 assists. The sophomore led the NCAA in goals this past season with 30, producing 49 points in 37 games. Leonard also led the NCAA this past season with nine game-winning goals, was a Hobey Baker finalist and was named Hockey East Player of the Year. 

Representing Team USA this past winter, Leonard captained the U.S. squad at the 2025 IIHF World Jr. championship, where the USA earned its second straight gold medal. Leonard was named tournament MVP. 

The 20-year-old Leonard was raised in Amherst and attended Pope Francis in Springfield before joining the U.S. National Team Development Program. Leonard’s older brother John Leonard starred at UMass and now plays for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers (minor league affiliate of the Florida Panthers).