Raider forward Brett Leason capped off a breakout season by signing an entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals on Thursday. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Trevor Redden

Capital Investment

Leason locks in with Capitals

Jul 11, 2019 | 3:00 PM

One day after Aliaksei Protas signed an entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals, his Raider line mate Brett Leason did the very same thing on Thursday.

The Capitals announced the team’s second round pick, 56th overall in the 2019 draft, signed a three-year entry level contract with an average annual salary of $750,000, including a $92,500 signing bonus each year.

Leason was one of the most talked about players in junior hockey during the 2018-19 season, bursting out of the gate with at least a point in each of his first 30 games to start the year. His performance was enough to earn a spot with Canada at the 2019 World Junior Championships in Vancouver, and he also participated in the CIBC Canada Russia Series as well as the Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Altogether, Leason led the Raiders with 89 points in 55 regular season games, with 36 goals and 53 assists. His point total was good for eighth overall leaguewide. Leason continued his production in a lengthy playoff run with 10 goals and 25 points in 22 playoff games, helping the Raiders to their second WHL Championship in franchise history.

Coming into the year, Leason had been passed over twice in the NHL draft having spent two seasons with Tri-City and Prince Albert. At the 2019 Draft, the 6’4” 199 pound winger was awarded the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, presented by the NHL each year to a prospect who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness, and athleticism.

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Indications thus far from both the Capitals and the Raiders are that the 20-year-old Leason will be moving on to the professional ranks this fall, likely starting the season with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.

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trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden