Aliaksei Protas

Capitals release 18 players from their Training Camp roster including Connor McMichael and Aliaksei Protas

The Washington Capitals had an off day on Thursday but their front office remained active. Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan paired down the Capitals’ Training Camp roster from 62 to 44 in their first major cuts of the preseason.

The biggest news was that Connor McMichael (London; OHL) ad Aliaksei Protas (Prince Albert; WHL) were loaned back to their respective junior teams. Both 18-year-old picks from the 2019 NHL Draft were impressive in their two preseason games with the Capitals. The mammoth Protas scored three points in his NHL preseason debut, including his first goal at the big league level.

McMichael was in the running to remain with the team and fill in during Evgeny Kuzetsov’s three-game suspension to start the regular season.

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By Ian Oland 1 hour ago

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Aliaksei Protas impresses after collecting three points in NHL preseason debut for Capitals

Aliaksei Protas played his first game in the NHL Monday at Capital One Arena. And while it was just a preseason game, Protas will likely remember it forever. The 2019 third-round pick collected three points and was named the first star of the night. He received kudos from both head coach Todd Reirden and Stanley Cup champion Tom Wilson after the game.

Protas helped set up Wilson’s overtime game-winner, scored a goal himself, and used a nifty no-look pass to hit Travis Boyd for a powerplay marker.

“Man, they played unbelievable,” Wilson said of the team’s young stars, including Protas. “I’d go down the list, but I’d be scared to leave somebody out because there were so many of them that played well. I think they carried us for the most part. Obviously, [Protas] and I thought McMichael, they all had pretty strong games.”

The 18-year-old center, the 91st overall pick in this past summer’s draft, signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Capitals in early July after impressing in Development Camp. Protas won a WHL championship and lifted the Ed Chynoweth Trophy last season as a member of the Prince Albert Raiders along with second-round pick Brett Leason. Protas is slated to return to junior hockey this season.

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By Ian Oland 2 days ago

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Connor McMichael, Brett Leason, and Aliaksei Protas post photos signing their first professional contracts

The Washington Capitals completed a trifecta of signings this week when they came to terms with the first three of their selections from the 2019 NHL Draft.

During the week, all three prospects — Connor McMichael, Brett Leason, and Aliaksei Protas — posted staged photos signing their first professional contracts and posted them on their social media accounts.

McMichael and Protas even went the extra mile by throwing on their Capitals jerseys for the pics. You kids can stay.

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By Ian Oland 2 months ago

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After impressive camp, Capitals sign 2019 third-round pick Aliaksei Protas to three-year, entry-level contract

Wednesday morning, the Washington Capitals announced that they signed 2019 third-round pick Aliaksei Protas to a three-year, entry-level contract worth $716,666 annually.

Standing 6’5″ and weighing in at 205 pounds, the hulking 18-year-old center won a WHL championship with the Prince Albert Raiders last season, leading all WHL rookies in playoff points with 22 (12g, 10a) in 23 games. Protas scored back-to-back hat tricks in the round prior to send the Raiders to the WHL Finals.

Protas was line-mates with Capitals’ second-round pick Brett Leason (20 years old), who will begin next season with the Hershey Bears.

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By Ian Oland 2 months ago

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Grading the Washington Capitals 2019 NHL Draft selections

The 2019 NHL Draft has concluded and the Washington Capitals ended up with four players selected within the first five rounds of action.

It’s time to evaluate how they did after a few days of observation.

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By Chris Cerullo 3 months ago

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Capitals trade up into third round and select forward Aliaksei Protas

The Washington Capitals moved up into the third round, where they originally did not have a pick due to the Carl Hagelin trade from last season, and selected Belarusian forward Aliaksei Protas from the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders.

To move up to the New Jersey Devils’ #91 selection, the Capitals parted with the #118 and #129 selections in this year’s draft.

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By Chris Cerullo 3 months ago

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