Aliaksei Protas 2022 Report Card
Next up on our Washington Capitals player report cards is rookie forward Aliaksei Protas. He was drafted in the third round with the 91st overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut on Nov. 1, 2021 at the Tampa Bay Lightning in a loss. He scored three goals and six assists for nine points in 33 games.
Listed as six foot six and 225 pounds he’s a big body who isn’t afraid to strike his prey. It’s why growing up playing hockey his teammates called him “The Viper”. He had a plus minus of plus four, won 44.8 percent of his face offs, had 12 blocks and 20 hits while averaging 11:50 minutes of ice time per game.
Protas’ first goal came on Nov. 28 at the Carolina Hurricanes in a win. He then scored on home ice a few days later against the Columbus Blue Jackets, while his third came in a January home win over the Winnipeg Jets.
Protas would spend the rest of the season with the Hershey Bears which would be his second season in he AHL. In 42 games, The Viper had eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points and an assist in three Calder Cup playoff games.
The previous season he recorded two goals and five assists for seven points in 16 games while beginning the year on a loan with the Dinamo Minsk of the KHL. Overseas he had 10 goals and eight assists for 18 points in 58 games.
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Grade B: With a void in the lineup without Tom Wilson to begin the season, the Caps should count on a big, physical guy like Protas to step in his place even if he isn’t quite ready for a top six role yet. He has a good shot at making the roster out of training camp depending on what the Caps can do this summer to lure in a free agent or get a good trade.