Despite A Quiet Summer & Failed PTO, Brett Leason Refused To Give Up. Now, He's Back With The Capitals: 'It's A Dream, And I'm Capable Of It'
The Capitals prospect details his "crazy" journey back to the organization.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — For Brett Leason, it’s like he never left.
The Washington Capitals call-up is currently back with the team amid some injuries up front, marking his return to the organization for the first time since being claimed off waivers by the Anaheim Ducks back in 2022.
“It’s crazy to come full circle kind of that quick,” Leason laughed. “Just three years on a break from the team. It’s cool; I’ve always loved it here. Drafted here, and they treat you right here. I’m happy to be back.”
Of course, getting to this point wasn’t straight-forward for the 26-year-old.
Leason, who was originally taken by Washington in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft as an overager, had a decent tenure in Anaheim, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough to stick around as he hit free agency.
There, he experienced his first real offseason, a somewhat quiet summer where nothing really came to fruition. Understandably, doubt start to creep into his mind.;After all, he’d been there before, especially when it had previously taken him a while to be drafted in the first place.
He’d ended up snagging a professional tryout with the Minnesota Wild, but he was unable to do much from it and ultimately released.
“It was tough,” Leason said. “Kind of went out to try and prove myself, and that didn’t work. I just found myself in a tough spot.”
While it was a difficult position for the 6-foot-5 winger, he refused to give up on the goal he’d worked toward his entire life.
“It’s obviously just a dream to kind of play hockey and do it for a living and stuff, and I know I’m capable of it,” Leason said. “My mind was always in the right focus and stuff, so just kind of never gave up.”
Ultimately, he ended up back on the Capitals’ radar, the team liking his game and playing style and seeing a fit for him as a top Hershey Bears forward and call-up option.
“I have a great relationship with him, so him coming back to the organization was a pleasant surprise,” coach Spencer Carbery said. “He’s played real well down (in Hershey)... for where our forward group is right now and how lines are taking shape, he’s a bigger guy someone who can help us a little bit, stability, bottom-six role, potentially penalty kill, forecheck, strong on the wall. That’s sort of what we’re looking at to give him an opportunity.”
Fast forward to 2026, and he’s back up in D.C. and trying to show the coaching staff what he’s capable of.
“I’ve kept working as hard as I can,” Leason said. It definitely feels like home here… I’m excited, I’m looking forward to keeping it going".”