OTTAWA | The season experienced by Matvei Michkov with the Philadelphia Flyers has rekindled the debate as to whether the Canadian should have selected him instead of David Reinbacher in 2023. But we are forgetting another name, a player who, according to what we hear , attracted the management of the Montreal Canadiens much more than that of Michkov: the fiery American Ryan Leonard.
The goal here is not to compare Leonard to Reinbacher, but rather to recall that even if the CH had not opted for the right-handed defender at fifth overall, there would not be a no 39 Russian currently with the Canadian.
Right or wrong.
Like the Tkachuk brothers
During his draft year, Leonard drew comparisons to some of the NHL’s biggest pests, starting with the Brady brothers and Matthew Tkachuk. Kent Hughes himself, during the traditional NHL Combine in June 2023, made the connection between the American striker and Keith Tkachuk’s two enfant terribles.
Tuesday, against Canada, we had another example. In a physical and intense match, Leonard was in all the fights, disturbing the opponent and constantly being in front of the net to hinder the work of Carter George.
A match that fit his style perfectly and made him such an attractive prospect in 2023.
Then it was the case again, Thursday, during the quarter-final match against Switzerland. Constantly involved in the game, he finished with two goals and a cut on his nose after receiving a puck in the face.
“He brings the players into battle with him with his emotion and energy. He is our captain for a reason,” complimented Americans head coach David Carle.
“It’s tough,” added his linemate Gabriel Perreault. He’s in all the fights and he’s not afraid of anyone.”
Public enemy no 1
Like the Tkachuk brothers, Leonard walks the thin line between intensity and indiscipline. At the very end of the second period on Tuesday, he let emotions take over and took a costly penalty that allowed Canada to tie the game at the start of the third set.
But he later made amends by being in all the fights again, scoring his team’s fourth goal into an empty net.
“I love physical matches. It’s really in these moments that I have the most pleasure playing hockey. Playing in front of a full arena, being the opposing team, you can really shut them up. To see them leave the arena at the end and realize what you just accomplished, it’s a special feeling.”
Then, on Thursday, he was named player of the match for the United States, and the crowd didn’t hesitate to boo him passionately as he walked up to receive his award.
“I liked it, it made me smile. It was great,” he said, with a smile on his face.
And we’re pretty sure he meant it.
