Griffins Anticipate Getting Leonard Back Sooner Rather Than Later

GRAND RAPIDS – The short-term prognosis for Grand Rapids Griffins forward John Leonard is not as good as what the team was hoping to hear.

“We thought he’d maybe play this weekend, but it doesn’t look like it,” Griffins’ coach Dan Watson said of the club’s leading goal-scorer.

The optimistic viewpoint is that no one is viewing Leonard being out of action for the long haul.

John Leonard, brother of @Capitals forward Ryan Leonard, has his first goal with the @DetroitRedWings! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/LLNVdrgbrL

— NHL (@NHL) December 20, 2025

“No, we’re hoping short-term,” Watson said. “So hopefully he’s back by next weekend.”

Leonard suffered an undisclosed injury in the second-last game that Grand Rapids played before the break for the AHL All-Star Classic. The ailment resulted in Leonard being scratched from participating in the All-Star festivities.

“Just an injury that, you know, just continually doesn’t get worse,” Watson said. “It gets better, but there’s still just a sharp pain that he’s got to work through.”

Red Wings Also Counting On Griffins Leonard

Minus Leonard and winger Eduards Tralmaks, who’s playing for Latvia at the Winter Olympics, the Griffins are missing 44 goals from their lineup. Leonard is second in the AHL and leading Grand Rapids with 26 goals in 32 games. Tralmaks has accounted for 18 goals this season.

John Leonard ties things at two for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Love the pass from Amadeus Lombardi to Michael Brandsegg-Nygard.

Also enjoy MBN doing a lil jump to allow Leonard's snipe to get down the slot and into the back of the net. #gogrg #lgrw #ahl pic.twitter.com/Fghkp6BbLC

— Elaine Shircliff (@imaraindancer) January 14, 2026

The 27-year-old left-winger picked up two goals and two assists in nine games with the Red Wings. Leonard was displaying impressive offensive instincts during his Detroit stint.

The inclination was that the Red Wings might recall Leonard at some point after the Olympic break to provide the lineup with some much-needed scoring depth.

“Well, he’s certainly confident at the American League level,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “What he’s done there and what that team has done is remarkable. But he’s been a real big part of it.

“He has (79 games of) NHL experience. I know he’s got some speed. We played against him when he was with the Sharks in San Jose, so we know that he can make an impact on the game with his speed. But now his shot and his creativity offensively are coming to the forefront as well.”