SJHN Daily: Leonard Stays in School, Will Smith Next? Kunin Is Sharks’ King Clancy Nominee

Ryan Leonard isn’t coming out, does that mean the same for Will Smith?

Today, the Washington Capitals announced that the 2023 eighth-overall pick is staying at Boston College another year.

President of hockey operations & general manager Brian MacLellan today issued the following statement regarding Capitals prospect Ryan Leonard’s decision to return to Boston College for his sophomore season.#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/66SVNbn4O5

— x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 17, 2024

Now, all eyes are on San Jose Sharks prospect Smith, Leonard’s BC center and fourth-overall pick of the 2023 Draft, and New York Rangers prospect Gabe Perreault, the third member of that line and the No. 23 pick of the 2023 Draft.

The vaunted trio, who helped lead the Eagles to the national championship game and USA to a World Junior Championships gold, put up a mind-boggling 75 goals and 116 assists between them, in a 41-game schedule this season.

They have unfinished business, losing the title game 2-0 to the University of Denver last Saturday.

AT SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW…

A new episode of the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is out! Why does Greg Wyshynski think Mike Grier is the GM of the Year? What do Greg, Sheng, and Keegan think of the big trades of Timo Meier, Brent Burns, and Tomas Hertl? Listen now!

Greg Wyshynski on When Sharks Will Make Playoffs Again, Why Grier Should Be GM of the Year

When should San Jose Sharks fans expect to see Will Smith signed? Not this season.

The San Jose Sharks and Barracuda announce their 2023-24 awards!

First-rounder Filip Bystedt talks North American debut!

OTHER SHARKS NEWS…

Best fans (and artists) in the game 💙

Last night our @Sharks365 members came out to paint the @SAPcenter ice! pic.twitter.com/CBaS9TVEFm

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 17, 2024

The Sharks helped showcase NHL action in Utah during the pre-season.

How Joey Daccord and his dad, Brian, helped Sharks goalie Devin Cooley make the NHL.

Luke Kunin is the San Jose Sharks’ King Clancy nominee:

Luke Kunin is your #SJSharks King Clancy award nominee! 👏

This season the LKT1D Fund co-hosted 28 families for a Sharks game and raised over $11,000 and counting for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation! pic.twitter.com/YUbNM0jHim

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 17, 2024

Are Mikael Granlund and Nico Sturm the most important leaders for the Sharks?

Stick taps to Georgi Romanov, who stopped 16 of 17 shots in his @NHL debut last night!@sjbarracuda | @SanJoseSharks | #AHLGrad🎓 pic.twitter.com/TBnbGhoiZu

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) April 16, 2024

AROUND THE NHL…

The Buffalo Sabres fired head coach Don Granato.

The New Jersey Devils may sign their top college defenseman prospect.

Tomas Hertl could provide big spark this postseason.

The Pittsburgh Penguins react to playoff elimination after their last game.

Marc-Andre Fleury coming back for another year…and he says it’s his last.

The New York Islanders sign Michigan free agent and Long Island native.

The NHL announces Game One schedules for the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Goodbye for now, Arizona Coyotes…

White. Out. pic.twitter.com/7JDwWwGdLU

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) April 18, 2024