Capitals sign Ryan Leonard to eight-year extension

The Washington Capitals have locked in one of their young stars to a long-term deal.

On Tuesday, the team announced they signed forward Ryan Leonard to an eight-year, $84-million contract extension that will carry a cap hit of $10.5 million

The contract will kick in following the 2026-27 season after Leonard’s entry-level deal expires, and will keep him under contract through the 2034-35 campaign.

Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the deal.

Leonard, 21, finished his NHL rookie campaign with 20 goals and 25 assists for 45 points in 75 games with the Capitals in 2025-26. He was fifth among all first-year skaters in goals, assists and points, and ranked eighth in Calder Trophy voting.

Leonard, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Capitals in March 2025 after his season with Boston College ended. He immediately joined the lineup and scored a goal in nine regular-season games, then recorded one assist in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games.

In two seasons at Boston College, Leonard scored 61 goals and 48 assists for 109 points and 84 penalty minutes in 78 NCAA games. He was a top-10 finalist for the 2025 Hobey Baker Award.

He also spent parts of two USHL seasons with the U.S. National Development Team, where he recorded 21 goals and 14 assists for 35 points in 50 games.

Internationally, Leonard won gold twice at the 2024 and 2025 World Junior Championships. In his second appearance, he was named tournament MVP, when he scored five goals and five assists for 10 points.

The Capitals went 43-40-9 with 95 points in 2025-26, fourth in the Metropolitan Division and four points back of a Wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.