Boston College hockey star Ryan Leonard’s NHL debut with the Washington Capitals was a bigger deal than you may have realized. Scoring 61 goals in his 78 college games, Leonard bid adieu to his final two years with the BC Eagles to make his NHL debut. His impressive numbers commanded an impressive entry-level contract of $950,000 (base AAV). And believe it or not, he could earn a $275,000 bonus by the time the Stanley Cup ends.

If that sounds way too insane to believe, you’re not alone. “I’m assuming this is April Fools because that is wild, LOL!” commented an NHL enthusiast on an NHL News post on X. With a base salary of $855,000, the Washington Capitals’ first top-10 pick since 2007 already earned a $95,000 signing bonus. However, winning one trophy will dwarf that bonus.

How, you ask? NHL News explained while sharing PuckPedia’s original contract breakdown. “Ryan Leonard has a $275K bonus this season if he wins the Conn Smythe,” the page highlighted in their caption. If he can do it, the former Eagles hockey star’s first-year NHL earnings will easily cross the $1.2 million mark. Then again, it’s much easier said than done.

The NHL awards the Conn Smythe Trophy “to the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs.” Let’s look at the players who’ve won the prestigious award to put into perspective what the 20-year-old NHL debutant is up against. Last year, none other than Connor McDavid won the trophy. Sidney Crosby, Leonard’s team captain Alex Ovechkin, The Great One Wayne Gretzky, and other icons have won the trophy.

Expecting a rookie Ryan Leonard to win the Stanley Cup MVP award may be too much, despite his undeniable talent. His own team captain, Alex Ovechkin, is far more likely to win the Conn Smythe Trophy considering the 39-year-old’s form this season. After all, the Russian ice hockey icon has nearly equaled Gretzky’s goalscoring record. With that being said, Leonard made a stellar debut tonight.

Ryan Leonard is here to make an impact

Besides proving himself to be an absolute goalscoring machine for the Boston College Eagles, the high-flying forward added some more muscle to the Capitals roster. Standing at 6 feet and weighing 200 lbs, the 20-year-old is well aware of his size and doesn’t shy away from making aggressive plays. As per BVM Sports, the forward can deliver 200 hits annually.

Coincidentally, Ryan Leonard played like he wanted to prove that stat correct. The NHL debutant made a statement with his physicality, delivering three big hits in, including one on Jeffrey Viel. What’s more? He even put in the hard work that ultimately led to Dylan Strome’s third-period goal. However, it’s not like the NHL was a walk in the park for the NCAA talent.

Many expected that that rookie would find the NHL’s pace to be challenging, and that’s exactly what happened. “It’s definitely a lot faster than college… Got to manage the puck a little bit better, bad turnovers,” confessed the youngster. Yet, he took it all in his stride as a learning experience. “I learned as the game went on. Just hopefully keep learning and getting better,” added Leonard.

Ryan Leonard’s arrival also marked a turnaround for the Washington Capitals. Despite a closely contested game, the Capitals finally snapped their three-game losing streak to get in the win column. “We just have to bounce back and find a way to win the games,” Ovechkin said after their most recent loss. The team finally figured out how on Leonard’s debut night.