The Detroit Red Wings are ready to see what all the fuss is about with John Leonard. They have summoned the 27-year-old left-winger from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.
Leonard is currently leading the AHL with 19 goals in 20 games. He’s third in overall scoring with 29 points.
Leonard’s seven game-winning goals also top the league. Sunday, in his farewell to the Griffins before his recall, Leonard scored the shootout winner as Grand Rapids beat the Chicago Wolves 2-1. The Griffins are an AHL-best 22-1-0-1 this season.
John Leonard with the only goal in a @griffinshockey shootout victory🤩 pic.twitter.com/oC9vC5mPaM
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) December 15, 2025
Over the past two AHL seasons, Leonard has netted 55 goals. He scored 36 times last season for the Charlotte Checkers. Before that, he’d never tallied more than 17 goals in a single AHL campaign.
He shows an impressive 29.7% shooting percentage this season. Leonard has goals in 15 of the 20 games he’s played this season. He’s scored 10 goals over the past 12 games.
Leonard was named the AHL Player of the Month for November. He was held scoreless just once in November and compiled 16 points (9-7-16) in 10 games. Leonard logged three game-winners, two three-point outings, and five multi-point games during the month.
Red Wings Signed Leonard As A UFA.
On July 1, the Red Wings signed Leonard to a one-year, one-way contract with an AAV of $775,000.
He’s on pace for a 60-goal AHL campaign. While traditionally big AHL scorers don’t necessarily translate into NHL offensive producers, at Leonard’s scoring pace, the Red Wings were going to have to give him a look at some point this season.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled John Leonard from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and assigned Erik Gustafsson. pic.twitter.com/NuBkOR17cx
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 15, 2025
Leonard has been given NHL opportunities on several prior occasions. Overall, he’s accounted for six goals and 11 assists in 70 games.
His longest NHL stint came in 2020-21 with the San Jose Sharks. In 44 games, Leonard scored three goals. None of his other NHL stints lasted longer than 14 games.
To make room for Leonard on the 23-player roster, the Red Wings assigned defenseman Erik Gustafsson to the Griffins.