Top Prospect Ryan Leonard Fined by the NHL and Gary Bettman in First Career Game

Ryan Leonard has been in a whirlwind the last few days. The first-year forward, newly departed from Boston College, remained level-headed despite the whirlwind of changes pouring his way.

On Sunday, his college career ended in the NCAA regional final. On Monday afternoon, he had committed to the Washington Capitals, the eighth overall draft pick of the team in 2023.

That evening, he was dining with Alex Ovechkin and his new teammates. By Tuesday, he had a stall in the visitors' locker room at TD Garden, a Capitals jersey with his name and No. 9, and one more thing checked off his list: his rookie solo lap.

Leonard joins a team that is seeking two major milestones. Washington is set to claim the No. 1 seed in the East while also seeking the Presidents' Trophy.

Meanwhile, Ovechkin is three goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 all-time goals.

With all that buzzing around him, Leonard's job at hand was simpler, getting the team on the ice for warm-ups. Traditionally, it is the rookies' turn first, the newcomer skating alone as teammates wait behind them.

He did it well, circling out of half the rink before shooting a puck off into the open net. But there was a catch: he did it without wearing a helmet.

A harmless tradition to most, but not to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who will fine Leonard under the league's rules requiring all players to wear helmets during warmups.

If Leonard was nervous about his debut, he didn't show it. But he might be feeling it in his wallet sooner rather than later.