The Washington Capitals announced on Thursday that forward Ryan Leonard is set to miss three to four weeks recovering from a shoulder injury.
Leonard hurt his shoulder against Anaheim on Dec. 5 after taking a big hit from Ducks defenceman Jacob Trouba late in the first period.
Leonard went down to the ice bleeding before exiting the game and did not return. Trouba was not penalized for the hit.
#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
The 20-year-old has seven goals and 18 points in 29 games for the Capitals this season.
Drafted eighth overall by Washington in 2023, Leonard made his NHL debut last season, scoring one goal in nine games. He had one assist in eight playoff games as the team reached the second round.
Internationally, Leonard helped the United States win back-to-back gold medals at the World Juniors in 2024 and 2025, capturing tournament MVP and best forward honours in 2025. He also scored the gold medal winning goal for the Americans at the 2023 U18s in overtime against Sweden.