"I was buried behind an experienced group when I was playing in Tri-City, and when I got traded to [Prince Albert] I finally got the chance to play and be a guy they can rely on," Leason said. "I was able to play my game this year. Coach (Marc Habscheid) let me do my thing and it paid off. Getting moved and getting a chance to play was a fresh start."
Leason made the most of it by improving his skating during the summer.
"Really tried to bring strength in my legs, and then toward the end of the summer I just worked on quick feet and agility to get the extra step," he said.
Canada coach Tim Hunter noticed the difference when he coached Moose Jaw in the WHL against Prince Albert, and also liked what he saw from Leason during two games for the WHL against Russia in the 2018 Canada Russia Series on Nov. 5-6.
"He's really come on, improved his skating and he's having a great year," Hunter said. "Very versatile, he kills penalties, he can play on the power play and he can score goals. Obviously he's a big body guy, real patient with the puck along the boards when he gets it, can transfer the puck to teammates coming out of our end and that's a tough thing to do when you have defense bearing down on you."
Leason's talent hasn't been lost on his more highly touted Canada teammates, even though some said they had no idea who he was before the start of this season.
"To be honest I didn't know much about him," said forward Nick Suzuki (Montreal Canadiens), who has been Leason's linemate during selection camp. "He's a big body and he has a good shot and he thinks the game really well."
Well enough to help Canada try to win a second straight WJC, something he said he wouldn't have even dreamed of doing after going undrafted for a second straight summer.
Leason's path from overlooked draft prospect to Canada's World Junior team isn't unprecedented.
