John Leonard got his first goal with the Detroit Red Wings in Saturday's matinee game against the Washington Capitals. In his third game with the main club, Leonard scored against his brother's team on Dec. 20th with several friends and family in attendance in the stands on the road. Leonard was called up after the Red Wings waived Jonatan Berggren, and Patrick Kane aggravated an upper body injury that has sidelined him since the end of the Red Wings six game road trip earlier this month.
Playing on Detroit's second line in place of Kane, the AHL's leading scorer had the Red Wings sole goal of the first period. John is the older brother of Washington center and 2023 no. 8 overall draft pick Ryan Leonard, who sat out of this game due to injury.
The Grand Rapids Griffins signed Leonard from the Charlotte Checkers to add to a loaded AHL roster that is currently sitting at the top of the league. More than a small amount of that success is due to Leonard's scoring ability. The elder Leonard brother has 29 points through 20 games with the Griffins, with nearly a goal a game at 19. That's despite the fact that Grand Rapids has had to rotate him and several of their other veterans in and out of the lineup to comply with AHL rules.
Kane did skate before practice for the Red Wings on Friday, but did not stay for the whole period. For now, Leonard has a goal and assist in three games and has acquitted himself well after being called up in the middle of a hot streak. Drafted in 2018 by the San Jose Sharks, Leonard had played 70 total NHL games with the Sharks, Nashville Predators, and Arizona Coyotes before this season, though he spent all of last year with the Charlotte Checkers.