John Leonard and Grand Rapids Griffins Off to a Hot Start
Photo Credit: Grand Rapids Griffins/Nicolas Carrillo
Last season, John Leonard and the Charlotte Checkers tore through the American Hockey League (AHL) on their way to the 2025 Calder Cup Finals against the Abbotsford Canucks. Despite a hard-fought battle, the Checkers ended up losing to the Canucks, 3-2, in Game 7 of the finals.
When you look at the stats, it’s easy to see that Leonard was an integral part of Charlotte’s success in both the regular and postseason. He finished the regular season leading the Checkers in points (61), goals (36), power play goals (10), and short-handed goals (5). League-wise, Leonard tied Toronto’s Alex Steeves for second in goals (36), just behind Texas’ Matej Blumel (39). Leonard’s five shorthanded goals placed him tied for first in the league with Graham Slaggert (Rochester) and Brendan Furry (Lehigh Valley).
At the end of the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, Leonard led the Checkers in goals (8), points (14), and shorthanded goals (4). His four shorthanded goals were the best in the league during the playoffs, as well.
From the Detroit Red Wings side of things, after the end of the 2024-25 season, it was clear the organization was in need of a veteran to help mold the youth in Grand Rapids and a prolific scorer they could depend on if they needed to call him up. So, it’s not shocking that once free agency opened on July 1, 2025, the Wings jumped at the chance to sign Leonard to a two-way contract.
Fast forward to the end of October 2025, and the Griffins are one of two teams in the AHL who are undefeated.
Leonard is a huge part of their success.
In five games with Grand Rapids, he is leading the team with eight points and six goals. Leonard is also tied for first in the league for goals with Oliver Moore of the Rockford IceHogs.
But Leonard is much more than a goal scorer. “You can see how smart he is. You can tell he has experience in certain areas of the ice where he can make those tight plays,” said Griffins Head Coach Dan Watson of Leonard. “He sees the ice extremely well. So, we’re fortunate and lucky to have him on our roster.”
Leonard spends a lot of time on the ice with Captain Dominik Shine during games, and for good reason. Similar knowledge, playing skill, speed, and goals for the season have created a strong level of chemistry between the two. “I like him and Shiner together,” explained Coach Watson of the pair. “They play with some energy.” On top of that, they always seem to know where the other is on the ice. “It’s fun playing with him. He’s an awesome guy to be around,” said Leonard. “He’s a really good player.”
Now, Shine isn’t the only one Leonard plays big minutes with during games. The Griffins have eight veterans on the team, seven now that Austin Watson was recalled, and the lines are ever-changing due to the fact vets are rotating in and out of the lineup. Yet, chemistry with him and his teammates seems to be unshakeable. “There are just so many good players in this room, and I think that it contributes to the make-up of this group so far,” said Leonard. “And, I think we’ve become a pretty close group pretty quick, and I think that goes a long way, and translates really well on the ice.”
For two years in a row, Leonard’s had the privilege of being on teams where the chemistry was great and the vibes were good. “It’s been fun. Last year was a lot of fun to be a part of. Obviously, we came up a little short there in the finals,” said Leonard. “It’s a really fun group here. I think we can make some noise this year.”
Grand Rapids and Leonard came into this season yelling at the top of their lungs, and they have no intention of quieting down anytime soon.
