Washington Capitals: Aliaksei Protas is killing it in the KHL
Washington Capitals prospect Aliaksei Protas is heating up in the KHL.
As North America waits for the return of hockey, several teams including the Washington Capitals have loaned prospects overseas. The team hopes the prospects can take advantage of honing their game with the extra play they’re getting. That’s exactly what 2019 draft pick Aliaksei Protas is doing.
Through 24 games, Protas has six goals and three assists for nine points. Most of his point production has occurred in the last two weeks. Earlier in the week Protas was named KHL Rookie of the Week as his team the Dinamo Minsk won all three of their away games. Protas has now set a franchise record for the Minsk for most goals in a season by a 19 year old.
Protas scored his fifth career KHL goal last Wednesday which broke the record in a game against Sibir. It came at 10:40 of the first period on a shot redirection from the left point. Yegor Sharangovich had the previous record in the 2017-18 season. It took Protas just 22 games as he had a four goal stretch in 14 games.
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It wasn’t always like that for Protas, who earlier in the month was a healthy scratch. He bounced back and even moved from the third line center position to the first line. On Nov. 15 in a game against Barys, the Dinamo got a 4-1 win as Protas recorded two assists and the top line contributed three of those four goals.
Protas continued the strong momentum this week with two goals and two assists in his last four games. In Dinamo’s homecoming game against Sochi on Thursday, Protas scored his sixth goal of the season at the 10:54 mark of the first period which tied the game. Protas wristed it top left. The Minsk would later tie the game with 11 seconds left and win it in overtime (credit: Jon Sorensen/NoVa Caps).
Protas was selected in the third round by the Capitals at #91 overall and as you can see in the photo above got to play in some Caps preseason games a year ago. He played in two contests and scored a goal in Washington’s home contest against the St. Louis Blues.
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Protas heating up in the KHL goes to show that the Caps prospects are getting stronger than ever. It’ll be exciting to someday both see him and Connor McMichael in the Caps red, white and blue. Protas was previously a standout with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL.