John Leonard’s Red-Hot November Earns Him AHL Player of the Month Honors
There’s hot, and then there’s John Leonard in November hot.
The Grand Rapids Griffins forward has been on an absolute tear to start the 2025-26 AHL season, and the league took notice-naming Leonard the AHL Player of the Month for November after a dominant stretch that’s been nothing short of electric. In just 15 games with Grand Rapids, Leonard has already piled up 24 points, including a league-leading 15 goals. That’s not just leading the Griffins-that’s pacing the entire AHL.
At 27, Leonard is making it clear he’s playing the best hockey of his career. He currently leads the league in goals, is tied for the top spot in total points, and sits seventh in plus-minus with a +11 rating. And when you look at points-per-game among players with at least 10 appearances, Leonard stands alone at the top with a scorching 1.60 average.
This kind of production doesn’t come around often in Grand Rapids. Leonard becomes just the third player in franchise history to claim the AHL’s monthly honor, joining Riley Barber (April 2022) and Chris Minard (February 2012). That’s elite company-and Leonard’s making his mark in a big way.
His impact has gone far beyond the scoresheet. Leonard’s been the engine behind a Griffins team that’s off to a historic 16-1-0-1 start.
His consistency and knack for delivering in big moments have helped turn Grand Rapids into one of the most dangerous teams in the league. He’s been held off the scoresheet just once in November.
The rest of the month? Pure fire-nine goals, seven assists, three game-winners, two three-point nights, and five multi-point performances.
When the game’s on the line, Leonard’s been the guy.
He closed out the month in style, too-scoring the decisive goal in back-to-back wins over Iowa. Clutch doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Leonard’s run isn’t just impressive-it’s record-setting. He opened his Griffins career with a ten-game point streak, the longest to start a season and a franchise debut in team history.
His six-game goal streak also ties for the third-longest in Griffins history, alongside names like Austin Watson, Jiri Hudler, Kip Miller, and Pavol Demitra. That’s a list packed with serious talent, and Leonard is right there with them.
This isn’t the first time Leonard’s lit up the AHL. He arrived in Grand Rapids fresh off a standout season with the Charlotte Checkers, where he helped push the team to the Calder Cup Finals.
Last year, he racked up 61 points, including 36 goals, 10 power-play tallies, and five short-handed strikes. He also fired off 252 shots-second-most in the league-showing just how relentless he is when it comes to generating offense.
Over six AHL seasons dating back to 2020-21, Leonard has built a strong resume: 98 goals and 97 assists in 264 games. He’s also logged 70 NHL games with San Jose, Nashville, and Arizona, picking up 17 points along the way.
But right now, it’s all about what he’s doing in Grand Rapids-and what he might do next. Because if this is how Leonard starts the season, the rest of the league better buckle up. He’s not just playing well-he’s putting together the kind of season that can change a team’s trajectory.
And if you’re the Griffins, you’re riding that wave as far as it’ll take you.