WASHINGTON, DC — Aliaksei Protas may be the NHL’s most improved player this season, and he continued his hot streak on Sunday. Netting a goal in Washington’s 8-5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, Protas became the third Capitals player this season to hit the 30-goal mark, quintupling his previous career high.
After scoring just six goals in 2023-24, Protas has transformed from a dependable but low-profile forward to a serious scoring talent in less than a year, becoming one of the Capitals’ most lethal offensive threats. Until recently, Protas thought the only way he could hit 30 goals in a season was with a controller.
“Maybe Xbox, like NHL 2025,” he joked Sunday evening.
Protas’s milestone goal came on a video game-worthy play. He scored on a shorthanded breakaway just 37 seconds into the third period, now leading the Capitals with three shorthanded goals this season.
To say that Protas has had a career year would almost be an understatement. He’s more than tripled his total career goals since Opening Night and has more points in 2024-25 (63) than his prior three season combined (53).
Head coach Spencer Carbery saw Protas’ potential this season early on, though even he didn’t think about Protas’ chance to reach 30 goals.
“I knew when he got off to the start that he did and watched him in training camp and through the first part of the season, his touches in the offensive half of the ice, his shot looked like it had improved,” he said. “He looks more confident than he was last year. So you knew that he was going to and capable of having a big year. I don’t know if I ever thought or put a specific number on it, but it’s good for him. He’s had an excellent year. To get to 30 goals is a huge accomplishment in this league.”
Alex Ovechkin, who has taken Protas under his wing during his time in Washington, was glad to see him hit the milestone. Earlier this month, he played a direct role in helping Protas reach goal no. 30 by giving up a shot at an empty net so Protas could score his first career hat trick.
“I’m very proud, very happy for him and his family,” Ovechkin said of Protas’ achievement. “He’s working hard. He’s a hardworking guy and he deserves it. He did lots of good things up there and he had to work.”
Protas’ work ethic came up time and time again as teammates sang his praises. A third-round draft pick in 2019, Protas’ road to the NHL was far from guaranteed; he instead worked his way up after spending parts of three seasons with the AHL’s Hershey Bears and continued to push himself in Washington. Even now, as Protas ranks third on the team in goals and second in points — all without a spot on the power play — Protas still rarely misses an optional skate, getting on the ice rather than choosing to rest.
“I’m super proud of him,” said Tom Wilson, who also notched his first 30-goal season this month. “He’s a guy that has earned everything. He’s come from a part of the world that’s very far away, from a town that you’ve got to work really hard to get out of and get to the NHL. Obviously him and his brother (Capitals prospect Ilya Protas) have done an amazing job.
“He’s a guy that (I’m) just super proud of, the work that he’s put in, the player and the person that he is, to reach 30 goals this early in his career. He’s earned every second of it. And I’m just really excited to see the player and the person and the leader that he becomes in this room, in this league. He’s a heck of a player and I’m just really happy for him.”
Protas was hardly willing to rest on his laurels even after a career achievement, saying postgame that he had had “an absolute off night” against Buffalo that was “unacceptable this time of the year.” He was similarly self-effacing when asked about reaching 30 goals, pivoting back to his teammates’ support and his own need to improve before the next game.
“Obviously [reaching 30 is] pretty special, so happy,” he said. “Thanks to the boys, but like I said, I would prefer to win and quality night for myself, and I know when we play good, everyone is playing good personally and it didn’t happen tonight. So I’m going to move on from this and learn from that experience.”
Few have seen as much of Protas’ progression as Carbery, who coached him on the 2020-21 Bears before the pair reunited in the NHL. He highlighted not only what Protas has accomplished but also that his development can serve as a role model for his peers, showing how players can find a new level to their game.
“This is a guy that works his butt off every day, has come through the American Hockey League as a third round pick,” he said. “Just does everything right. Works hard, wants to get better, coachable, all the above.
“The sky’s the limit for players like that. Obviously you have to have a skill set. He’s got size and all the attributes that he has, but nobody works harder than Pro. It shows not just the players on our team, but our entire organization what things you’re capable of when you have that type of commitment to your craft.”
