Hockey recap: Griffins top scorer John Leonard signs extension with Wings

The Detroit Red Wings signed forwardJohn Leonard to a one-year contract extension on Thursday. The 27-year-old Leonard led Grand Rapids with 32 goals and 53 points and was named to the AHL Second All-Star Team for the second straight season. He appeared in 11 games with the Red Wings with four points (2+2=4) and a minus-3 rating.

He made his Detroit debut on Dec. 16 against the New York Islanders and recorded a three-game point streak from Dec. 17-21 (2+1=3).

In six AHL seasons since 2020-21, Leonard has 224 points (115+109=224) and a minus-5 rating in 295 regular-season games with the Charlotte Checkers and Griffins. Blue Jackets' Bowness agrees to extension Former Red Wing Rick Bowness agreed to a contract extension to return as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2026-27, the team announced Thursday. Bowness, 71, replaced Dean Evason on Jan.

12 and guided Columbus to a 21-11-5 record. "Rick has done an outstanding job since his arrival and it was obvious to all of us that he is the right person to lead our club as head coach," general manager Don Waddell said. "Rick developed strong relationships with our players who will continue to benefit greatly from his leadership as we look to learn from the hard lessons of this season and work towards our goal of competing for a Stanley Cup.