Nobody likes to think about this last season's March Sadness for the Detroit Red Wings, but there were still some positives that came out of it. Emmitt Finnie looked like a natural playing center. Marco Kasper got some of his swagger back. While things didn't turn out right, there's still some diamonds (albeit small ones) found within the rough.
One such diamond is John Leonard.
Leonard played 47 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins this season, leading the team in points with 54 on the season. His 33 goals led all Griffins scorers with a seven goal margin. When the Red Wings suffered a bout of injuries, Leonard, Sheldon Dries and Eduards Tralmaks made up a contingent of reinforcements to Detroit to help stabilize the sinking ship.
While the ship ultimately did sink, Leonard was more of a solution than a problem.
In 11 games with the Red Wings, Leonard scored twice and ended his brief tenure with four points. At this point in his career, the 27-year-old is far too talented for the AHL. It's clear he's got talent at the NHL level, but the question remains:
Will Leonard play for the Red Wings next season, or will he find a better opportunity elsewhere?
How Leonard earned an NHL deal
Near the end of the season, Leonard looked like the only bottom-sixer on the roster that still cared. He gave it his all every shift despite playing around 11 minutes a night. Limited shifts didn't stop him, nor did his line mates -- many of whom seemed checked out by April. In his limited role, Leonard made it his goal to make an impact.
And make an impact he did.
It's almost certain that Leonard will earn a two-way contract, if not an NHL contract next season. The former sixth-round pick has 21 points across 81 career NHL games -- four of which came in his time with Detroit. While he is 27 years old and it's unlikely that he'll amount to more than a solid bottom-sixer, it's clear that Leonard has plenty left in the tank.
Leonard has a nine point lead on Sheldon Dries, the second-highest scorer on the Griffins despite playing 10 fewer games than Dries. He's a prolific scorer at the AHL level and clearly has at least a modicum of that ability at the NHL level.
Red Wings might not have room for Leonard
That said, roster spots are extremely limited for the Red Wings right now. Even if the team completely overhauls its bottom-six, they'll still save spots for prospects above AHL vets. If Leonard doesn't earn an NHL deal with the Red Wings, he can certainly seek it among burgeoning teams to play as a middle-of-the-road veteran with experience in both leagues.
Teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators are young and need a little bit of guidance for their roster. Leonard can offer a best of both worlds approach: he understands what it takes at both the NHL and AHL level and can help shepherd younger players to key spots in the future.
There's a world out there where Leonard carves out a solid late NHL career for himself. The question remains, however, where he'll forge that path.
Final Grade: A
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