ok i did just make this post talking about it briefly but i do want to go more in depth:
ok to start off for those who don’t know: in 2018, leno’s older brother (who he looks up to a LOT. that’s his favorite player) was drafted 182nd overall to the san jose sharks, and he played his first nhl season with them the 20-21 season. john leonard played the most nhl games he has with any team (he is currently on his fourth) with the sharks, playing 58 games in two (shortened) seasons, scoring four goals and eleven assists.
(during this time he was very close with mario ferraro! they were roommates (qna they filmed together here) and big leno scored his first nhl goal off of an assist from mario)
the sharks traded him to nashville in 2022, who then traded him to arizona, and he played the 25-26 season for the detroit red wings where he played 11 nhl games this season (the most since being traded from the sharks).
as a consequence of all of this, leno’s team usa hockey profile (which would be from around the time big leno signed with the sharks) says this:
which is 100% outdated now because it should say the detroit red wings. obviously.
anyways rpfing here but not really leno’s hero worship for his brother is sooo interesting especially considering the way big leno trained him (in one case described as ‘groomed him’ by jleno himself whatever) and the way he was always playing up. he has been chasing after being his big brother for foreverrr and i’m so excited to see them hopefully play each other next season.
another note! there’s also a john leonard quote where he says he always knew leno would be a better player than him.
anyways. back to the sharks: obviously leno went 8oa to washington and will smith went 4oa to san jose. adding to the narries obviously because that’s the second incredibly important person in his life to be drafted to the sharks
they commit to bc together blah blah blah obviously and then they lose the natty and will chooses to sign with the sharks a year earlier than was planned (leno says the plan was always to play two years) which. rpfing again here. OBVIOUSLY shook their relationship in some way. like the stability that was there before is gone and they were really obviously fighting for an extended period of time
to add salt into the wound macklin celebrini, who leno would have already had at least some bad blood with considering the bu bc rivalry and … everything that comes with that (here’s leno after mack scored which is the best evidence i have on hand) (they also shoved each other around when leno was playing for the usntdp and mack was playing for the chicago steel) is drafted 1oa to san jose and there’s. obviously wm. but also: “[leno] wants to produce like macklin celebrini” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! also mack almost stole leno’s number at worlds last year
leno’s first game against the sharks (about a week before he was taken out w a shoulder injury around the same time will was ALSO taken out by a shoulder injury #mytwinflames) (little mackleno scrabble) he scored two goals, two assists, and they beat the sharks 7-1 (macks number. yay!). like a really insane game for leno.
also to add onto all of it the caps just acquired sharks dman big vinny. so.
anyways this is my brief summary of the insane narratives surrounding ryan leonard and the san jose sharks❤️
