The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Ilya Protas from AHL Hershey. Ilya is the younger brother of Capitals winger Aliaksei Protas.
Protas, 19, could make his NHL debut this Wednesday when the Capitals visit Toronto. The young Russian forward nicknamed “Little Pro” is already making a splash with the Hershey Bears this season.
Protas has recorded a team-high 62 points (28 goals, 34 assists) in 66 games with Hershey. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound forward leads all AHL rookies in points and is tied for sixth among all skaters.
Protas currently leads the Bears in goals, points, power-play goals, power-play points, shots and plus-minus. The 19-year-old most recently recorded a career-high six points (one goal, five assists) against Hartford on April 4. It was the AHL's first six-point game since 2019.
The Capitals originally selected Protas in the third round (75th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. Ilya was selected five years after older brother Aliaksei, who was also drafted in the third round in 2019.
The Capitals are currently three points out of the playoff positions with four games left in the regular season. Will Little Pro's NHL debut be enough to reach the playoffs?
