Aliaksei Protas Explained

Aliaksei Protas
Birth Date:6 January 2001
Birth Place:Vitebsk, Belarus
Height Ft:6
Height In:6
Weight Lb:214
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
Team:Washington Capitals
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Dinamo Minsk
Ntl Team:Belarus
Draft:91st overall
Draft Year:2019
Draft Team:Washington Capitals
Career Start:2020

Aliaksei Uladzimiravich Protas (Belarusian: Аляксей Уладзіміравіч Протас, Russian: Алексей Владимирович Протас; born 6 January 2001) is a Belarusian professional ice hockey centre for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Protas previously played two seasons of major junior for the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and was selected 91st overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He made his professional debut in 2020 with Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League. Internationally Protas has played for the Belarusian national junior team at two World Junior Championships.

Playing career

Protas started his career in his hometown of Vitebsk. He moved to Denver, Colorado to play youth hockey for Colorado Evolution for one season before travelling back to Belarus. He spent two seasons with the Belarus U17 team that played in the Vysshaya Liga, the second league in Belarus, before being selected 26th overall by the Prince Albert Raiders in the 2018 CHL Import Draft.[1] He joined the Raiders for the 2018–19 season, and finished with 40 points in 61 games. Heading into the 2019 NHL Entry Draft Protas was the 30th ranked North American skater, and was selected 91st overall by the Washington Capitals.[2] He played for Prince Albert in 2019–20 season, which was ended prematurely due to COVID-19; in 58 games he had 80 points, which placed him ninth in the WHL in scoring and the highest European player.[3]

For the 2020–21 season Protas was loaned to HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).[3] He had 18 points in 58 games, and an additional 4 points in 5 playoff games.[4] With Minsk's season over, Protas was re-assigned to the Hershey Bears, the Capitals' American Hockey League affiliate.[5]

During the 2021–22 NHL season, Protas was called up to the Capitals,[6] and he scored his first career NHL goal on 28 November 2021, during a 4–2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.[7]

On 19 January 2024, Protas signed a five-year contract extension with the Capitals, carrying an average annual value of $3.375 million through the 2028–29 season.[8]

Personal life

Protas' younger brother, Ilya, was drafted by the Capitals in the third round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.[9]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2016–17Team Belarus U17BEL-24 0 1 1 0
2017–18Team Belarus U17BEL-249 9 11 20 83 1 3 4 0
2018–19Prince Albert RaidersWHL61 11 29 40 423 12 10 22 6
2018–19Prince Albert RaidersMC30002
2019–20Prince Albert RaidersWHL58 31 49 80 8
2020–21Dinamo MinskKHL58 10 8 18 45 1 3 4 4
2020–21Hershey BearsAHL16 2 5 7 2
2021–22Hershey BearsAHL42 8 16 24 103 0 1 1 0
2021–22Washington CapitalsNHL33 3 6 9 0
2022–23Washington CapitalsNHL58 4 11 15 12
2022–23Hershey BearsAHL9 2 3 5 020 5 8 13 2
2023–24Washington CapitalsNHL78 6 23 29 84 0 2 2 0
KHL totals58 10 8 18 45 1 3 4 4
NHL totals169 13 40 53 204 0 2 2 0

International

YearTeamEventResultGP G A Pts PIM
2018BelarusU188th5 1 3 4 0
2019BelarusWJC-D1DNQ5 2 3 5 0
2020BelarusWJC-D1DNQ5 4 3 7 6
2021BelarusWC15th6 0 2 2 0
2022BelarusOGQDNQ3 0 1 1 2
Junior totals15 7 9 16 6
Senior totals9 0 3 3 2

Awards and honours

HonourYear
WHL
Ed Chynoweth Cup2019
First All-Star Team (East)2020[10]
Belarus
2021 Belarus Cup – Champion2021
AHL
2023[11]
International
WJC D1 – Silver Medal 2019
WJC-D1 – Bronze Medal 2020

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Raiders Select Protas In CHL Import Draft. 28 June 2018. Raiderhockey.com. 13 March 2021.
  2. Web site: Capitals Sign Aliaksei Protas. 10 July 2019. NHL.com. 13 March 2021.
  3. Web site: Capitals Loan Aliaksei Protas to Dinamo Minsk (KHL). 7 August 2020. NHL.com. 13 March 2021.
  4. Web site: Gotaas excited to return to the ice. Punkari. Lucas. 11 March 2021. Prince Albert Herald. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. 13 March 2021.
  5. Web site: Capitals Re-assign Aliaksei Protas to Hershey. 18 March 2021. NHL.com. 18 March 2021.
  6. Web site: Capitals' Alexei Protas: Called up. November 10, 2021. cbssports.com. December 21, 2021.
  7. Web site: Aliaksei Protas scores the first NHL goal after diverting the puck from Tony DeAngelo and in - AU Sports. November 28, 2021. ausports.net. December 21, 2021.
  8. Web site: Capitals re-sign Aliaksei Protas . . 19 January 2024 . 19 January 2024 .
  9. Web site: Silber . Sammi . Capitals Move Up In Third Round To Take Ilya Protas, Younger Brother Of Aliaksei . thehockeynews.com . 29 June 2024.
  10. Web site: WHL announces 2019-20 Conference First All-Star Teams . . 2020-04-07 . 2022-07-25.
  11. Web site: Sweeter by the dozen: Hershey wins 12th Cup . . June 22, 2023 . June 22, 2023.