The Detroit Red Wings are turning to John Leonard for a depth boost, and the move says as much about the team’s current needs as it does about Leonard himself.
Leonard’s early-season injury slowed his start, but he’s made up ground with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Now he’s back in Detroit’s orbit because he brings a few things this roster clearly needs: familiarity, steadiness and the kind of shift-to-shift reliability that can help settle a game.
That matters for a young Red Wings group still trying to define itself. Leonard has already spent time with Detroit, appearing in 11 games last season and finishing with four points.
He’s not being asked to light up the scoreboard. He’s being asked to help keep things organized.
In a season where the Red Wings have already let games slip away, including the loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, that sort of presence has value.
At the AHL level, Leonard has been productive in a short sample, posting seven points in six games for Grand Rapids, with five goals and two assists. Four of those goals have come on the power play. He’s also the kind of player who can serve as a stabilizer on a line, even if the group around him isn’t especially flashy.
To make room, Nate Danielson sat against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s the kind of decision that has drawn questions, especially given the timing. Danielson has had stretches where the NHL game seems to hit him from every angle at once, but the swap still landed as an eyebrow-raiser.
That said, Saturday’s loss wasn’t on Danielson alone. Multiple players made uncharacteristic mistakes, and the goaltending didn’t hold up either.
The bigger question is what the Red Wings are trying to get out of the move. Leonard can be dependable, but Danielson is still learning how to handle NHL minutes, and Detroit’s center depth already leaves plenty to be desired. That’s why the lineup choices keep drawing attention.
According to Natural Stat Trick as of November 3, Leonard and Danielson have posted similar five-on-five advanced numbers from 2024-25 through 2026-27, though Danielson has the edge in ice time and production. Neither has separated himself in a major way.
Leonard’s five-on-five numbers against the Panthers fit the profile. He logged just under 12 minutes, finished with a CF% of 47.62% and an xGF% of 35.06%. Danielson’s five-on-five work against the Blues came in at a little over 10.5 minutes, with a CF% of 47.06% and an xGF% of 34.80%.
There are other young forwards in the system who are turning heads, too. Jesse Kiiskinen and Carter Bear have both put together remarkable seasons with the Griffins, which makes the decision to keep shuttling young players back and forth feel even more complicated, especially if Leonard’s stay is short.
Still, Leonard is an NHL-caliber player who can help Detroit this season. The recall may leave fans wondering about the bigger plan, but the player himself brings enough utility to make sense in a bottom-six role.
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