Ilya Protas

Ilya Protas
Protas with the Hershey Bears in 2026
Born (2006-07-18) July 18, 2006 (age 20)
Vitebsk, Belarus
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
NHL team Washington Capitals
National team  Belarus
NHL draft 75th overall, 2024
Washington Capitals
Playing career 2025–present

Ilya Protas (Belarusian: Илья Уладзіміравіч Протас, Russian: Илья Владимирович Протас; born July 18, 2006) is a Belarusian professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He made his professional debut in 2024 with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Playing career

Protas began his junior career in 2023 playing for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). While playing for Des Moines, he was drafted 75th overall in the 2024 NHL entry draft by the Washington Capitals. He played in 61 games for the Buccaneers, scoring 14 goals and assisting on 37, for a total of 51 points.

For the 2024–25 season, Protas joined the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Playing in 61 games, Protas scored 50 goals and assisted on 74, for a total of 124 points. In twelve playoff games, he scored 5 goals and had 20 assists, for a total of 25 points.

Protas began the 2025–26 season playing for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. In 66 games, Protas scored 28 goals and 34 assists, for a total 62 points. Protas was called up to the Capitals on April 6, 2026. Protas scored his first NHL point during a 4–0 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 8, 2026, his debut game. He then scored his first career NHL goal in a 6–3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 11, 2026. He finished the NHL season with one goal and three assists in four games. On April 15, 2026, Protas was loaned back to Hershey. On April 23, 2026, Protas was awarded the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award, given to the rookie of the year in the AHL.

Personal life

Protas' older brother, Aliaksei, was drafted by the Capitals in the third round of the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2023–24 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 6114376114 —————
2024–25 Windsor Spitfires OHL 61507412434 12520256
2025–26 Hershey Bears AHL 6929376640 62466
2025–26 Washington Capitals NHL 41342 —————
NHL totals 41342 —————

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
USHL
USHL All-Rookie Team 2024
OHL
OHL All-Star Second team 2025
William Hanley Trophy 2025
AHL
AHL All-Star Game 2026
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award 2026

References

  1. ↑ "Ilya Protas Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com". hockeydb.com. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Capitals Recall Ilya Protas from Hershey". hersheybears.com. April 6, 2026. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Protas Records First NHL Point in Debut, Sets Up Hutson's Empty Netter with Brother". eliteprospects.com. April 9, 2026. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  4. ↑ Crosby, Wes (April 11, 2026). "Ilya Protas has 3 points, Capitals defeat Penguins to stay in wild-card hunt". nhl.com. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Capitals Loan Ivan Miroshnichenko, Ilya Protas and Clay Stevenson to Hershey". nhl.com. April 15, 2026. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Lichtman, Harry (April 23, 2026). "Capitals' Ilya Protas named AHL Rookie of the Year". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "Bears' Protas wins Dudley (Red) Garrett Award as top rookie". theahl.com. April 23, 2026. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ Silber, Sammi (June 29, 2024). "Capitals Move Up In Third Round To Take Ilya Protas, Younger Brother Of Aliaksei". thehockeynews.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  9. ↑ "USHL All-Rookie Teams Announced for 2023-24". USHL. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ "OHL Announces 2024-25 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams". Canadian Hockey League. May 30, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Spitfires' Ilya Protas claims William Hanley Trophy as OHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player". Canadian Hockey League. April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2026.