Positive Signs in Ryan Leonard Injury Update

The 20-year-old winger has been out since Dec. 5 with a shoulder injury after a Jacob Trouba hit in Anaheim. Even with the missed time, the 2023 eighth overall pick still has 18 points, seven goals and 11 assists.

Last week, the club's timeline was three to four weeks, but the rehab has moved quickly. He has skated, then shed the no-contact look, and contact work followed in practice.

At Tuesday's optional morning skate, Sammi Silber reported Leonard getting reps on the top power-play unit. She also noted he came off the ice early and skipped the usual extra work.

That routine detail can mean a player expects to dress, but it is not a guarantee. Silber added they were still waiting for Spencer Carbery to put the final stamp on it.

If Leonard is truly in play for Tuesday night against the New York Rangers, the PP1 angle matters. Washington's top unit runs through Alex Ovechkin's left-circle shot, and it needs someone to win pucks and keep possessions alive.

Caps fans have been waiting for a kid who shoots first, and Leonard's edge is hard to fake. Even before the injury, his five-on-five shifts had more straight-line pressure than most of the middle six.

Carbery has talked about cleaner breakouts and better neutral-zone connection, and Leonard's pace helps when the first pass is crisp. On the forecheck, he can turn a harmless rim into a rushed exit and a second chance.

The bigger picture is simple, Washington has dropped five of its last six games and needs a jolt. Whether he plays Tuesday or not, the next Carbery update is the one that finally turns «progress» into an answer.