Prospect Info: 2018 Draft: Round 6, Pick# 182 - John Leonard, LW (UMass/NCAA)

[The Nemesis]

JOHN LEONARD (LW) [UMass (Hockey East)]

Bio
Born: Aug 7, 1998 (19 yo as of Jun 24, 2018)
From: Amherst, Ma, USA
Height: 5'11
Weight: 185
Shoots: Left


Notes

• Eligible but unselected in the 2016 and 2017 drafts
• EliteProspects says he's also known as "Johnny Leonard"
• Latest "Tim Burke Special" pick since 2014 when the Sharks didn't pick a single NCAA-bound player (for serious. I'm shocked it ever happened too)
  
• Played for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL before UMass
• Led UMass in scoring in his freshman season, 5 points ahead of 2017 Sharks pick Mario Ferraro
• The fact that the Sharks had Ferraro on the 2017-18 UMass team is probably what put them on Leonard's track in the first place.

Stats & Info Links
John Leonard at eliteprospects.com
John Leonard (b.1998) hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com

Draft Rankings
Was not ranked by any major publication for the 2018 draft.

Scouting Reports

Spoiler: Scouting Reports

None, as of yet

Video Clips

Spoiler: Highlights

Click to read more...

 

[Gene Parmesan]

This is your Burke pick.

 

[The Nemesis]

None of my primary info sources have anything on Leonard.

Tim Burkiest pick in the draft. And in fact the only Tim Burkey pick of the draft. DW must've locked him in a closet while he went up to pick Merkley

 

[hohosaregood]

None of my primary info sources have anything on Leonard.

Tim Burkiest pick in the draft. And in fact the only Tim Burkey pick of the draft. DW must've locked him in a closet while he went up to pick Merkley

2017‑18 Massachusetts Statistics Advanced Metrics

Strong point in favor of John Leonard is the best shot generator among forwards on the team only behind Makar. My herky jerky study suggests that's a good thing especially in regards to freshman forwards. That's partially why I'm not that pissy about Norris and why I think Ryan Poehling is gonna be a bust but there data only goes back to like 2015 so not many successes to go off of just yet.

 

[Sharksrule04]

Oh, just search his ESPN top 10 goal. Kid has a ton of talent.

 

[wishman]

 

[Friday]

That last highlight looked like a Donkey move. Thats awesome

 

[Lebanezer]

 

[PacificOceanPotion]

I was just preparing to post that highlight lol what a move! kids got sweet hands.

 

[LadyStanley]

UMass’ John Leonard ‘shaking a little bit’ after being drafted by San Jose Sharks

Leonard on golf course with friends and was ignoring continually ringing phone (bad manners on course) until he finally answered.

Plans to attempt development camp (and return to college next season).

 

[Sharksrule04]

Not sure what happened to my post the other day, probably got lost in this websites volume. Anyway I wrote that I went to 5 Umass games to see Ferraro and my alma mater last season and Leonard always impressed me. Great puck skills, smooth skater and isn’t afraid to go into the tough areas. Many beautiful goals last season too. Very excited that we drafted him. Tons of talent and potential. Had a great season for a true freshman in Hockey East.

 

[PacificOceanPotion]

I've got a real good feeling about Leonard if he keeps developing at this pace.

 

[The Nemesis]

Not sure what happened to my post the other day, probably got lost in this websites volume. Anyway I wrote that I went to 5 Umass games to see Ferraro and my alma mater last season and Leonard always impressed me. Great puck skills, smooth skater and isn’t afraid to go into the tough areas. Many beautiful goals last season too. Very excited that we drafted him. Tons of talent and potential. Had a great season for a true freshman in Hockey East.

Most likely. From what I understand, aside from the 520 errors, the biggest thing the draftpocalypse had going for it was that it basically shattered the site into its disparate server versions like so many parallel universes where everything is just the same as the other, except maybe you made a post in one but didn't in another .

 

[Sharksrule04]

I've got a real good feeling about Leonard if he keeps developing at this pace.

Same, I could easily see him becoming a low end top 6 forward with the skills he has. He’s a good 3-4 years away but he has the ceiling.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

A visitor's bump : Led the NCAA in goals this season. Scored 27 goals, in just 33 games.
- added 10 assists and was +17 (2nd highest of forwards and 3rd highest all together).

 

[themelkman]

Pretty crazy no one ranked him for his draft and the sharks brass think he could be a future top six guy. Say what you want about our drafting but the sharks know how to find gems

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Pretty crazy no one ranked him for his draft and the sharks brass think he could be a future top six guy. Say what you want about our drafting but the sharks know how to find gems

No not really. They did at one point. They’ve been having less late round drafting successes of late.

 

[themelkman]

No not really. They did at one point. They’ve been having less late round drafting successes of late.

Well I mean Blich in the 7th, Chmelevski in the 6th, Hatakka in the 6th. Id consider those all pretty good picks, even if they havent made it yet.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Well I mean Blich in the 7th, Chmelevski in the 6th, Hatakka in the 6th. Id consider those all pretty good picks, even if they havent made it yet.

But they don’t mean anything until they make it and none of them are showing that them making it is a good possibility.

 

[hohosaregood]

Labanc has been pretty good for a late round pick. Demelo has value in this league too even if we didnt like him. Balcers is also looking like a likely NHLer in the long term. 3 in the last 8ish years is a pretty good hit rate for late round picks. Especially when picks in the last 3-4 years are still on the development track.

 

[The Ice Hockey Dude]

We will see if Lenoard, Blitchfield or any other late rounders can become
decent NHLers.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Labanc has been pretty good for a late round pick. Demelo has value in this league too even if we didnt like him. Balcers is also looking like a likely NHLer in the long term. 3 in the last 8ish years is a pretty good hit rate for late round picks. Especially when picks in the last 3-4 years are still on the development track.

Labanc is a gem, for sure. DeMelo is what you'd expect from someone who makes it from that level. A depth piece who is a throw-in to any deal and also a pick from nine years ago. Balcers is still boom-bust and still having a hard time making it in Ottawa. I wouldn't call those gems. And Labanc is one pick in ten years. In the six drafts DW had before that, he had Demers, Braun, Pavelski, and arguably Wingels depending on your benchmark for gems for the team. Bonino would count too if you're talking gems even if they didn't help the Sharks. Since then? Labanc is it. Maybe Kuraly if we're counting DeMelo for some reason? You have to reach to call it a gem, I think. And there is certainly a stark contrast from the type of players that were undoubtedly gems like I previously mentioned.

 

[EXTRAS]

you guys think Leonard signs or does 1 more year in college?

 

[Harbessix]

Hope he signs, was actually hoping it would already be done. Wouldn’t mind signing Mitchell Chaffee while we’re at it.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

you guys think Leonard signs or does 1 more year in college?

I expect him to sign. Sharks need forwards. Also, if Leonard is looking at Ferraro's trajectory in our organization, he has feel that there is a chance for him to earn a role on the Sharks right away.