Capitals Say Ryan Leonard Suffered Shoulder Injury On Hit From Jacob Trouba, Has Recovery Timeline Of 3-4 Weeks

The Capitals rookie was said to be out for an "extended period of time."

ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals will have Ryan Leonard back sooner than expected, as he is dealing with a recovery timeline of 3-4 weeks after suffering a shoulder injury on Dec. 5 following a hit from Jacob Trouba.

According to coach Spencer Carbery, Leonard did not suffer a head injury in true play, but a shoulder injury and “some facial injuries.”

Early in the team’s shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks, Leonard was skating behind the net when he caught a high hit from Trouba that sent him hard to the ice and left him hurt and bleeding from the face. The 20-year-old was able to skate off the ice under his own power at the time.

Before being reevaluated, Carbery said that Leonard would be out for an “extended period of time” as he was left dealing with the after effects of the injury.

Prior to the hit, Leonard was on a four-game point streak and ranked fourth among all NHL rookies in scoring.

This timeline has Leonard, 20, set to return in January.