📸: Alan Dobbins/RMNB
ARLINGTON, VA — The Washington Capitals announced Thursday that rookie Ryan Leonard will miss the next three to four weeks with a shoulder injury.
Leonard has been out since taking a hit from Anaheim Ducks forward Jacob Trouba on December 5. Head coach Spencer Carbery added Thursday morning that Leonard also had facial injuries from the collision, but noted that he did not have a concussion.
#Caps Ryan Leonard sustained a shoulder injury during the game on Dec. 5 in Anaheim. Based on the injury and the expected course of rehabilitation, his projected recovery time is approximately 3-4 weeks.
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) December 11, 2025
“He’s got facial injuries,” Carbery said. “I’m not going to go into the specifics of what areas of his face, but he does not have a head injury. Facial, whatever you want to call it, (and) shoulder injury.”
Carbery previously said that Leonard would be out for an “extended period of time” but had declined to offer specifics. The Capitals’ timeline would place Leonard’s return in early to mid-January.
This story is developing and will be updated.