Hershey's Ilya Protas Arrives at Capitals Camp With a Job to Take

The AHL's reigning rookie of the year arrived at Capitals camp with a clear path to move up from Hershey.

Ilya Protas, 20, reported to Washington Capitals rookie camp at McMullen Hockey Arena on the campus of the U.S. Naval Academy over the weekend as the favorite to open the season as the club's third-line center, and he told NHL.com on Sunday he sees a "big chance" in front of him.

"It's cool, but it's the best league in the world, and you've got to prove it and you've got to show it and you've got to deserve it and earn it," Protas said. "No one is going to give you that spot just for free."

The case for him starts in the AHL. In his first pro season, Protas won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the league's top rookie after putting up 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 69 games with the Bears, leading all AHL rookies and every Hershey skater.

That earned a call-up for the final week of the NHL season, where he collected four points in four games, including three in a 6-3 win at Pittsburgh on April 11, mostly centering a line between his brother Aliaksei and Tom Wilson.

Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said last month that Protas is "penciled in" behind Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois, with Justin Sourdif available to absorb minutes if the 20-year-old hits a rough patch.

Capitals training camp practices begin Thursday.

Protas was drafted as a left wing in the third round in 2024, but he played center at Windsor of the OHL, in Hershey and in his four NHL games. "It's my main spot," he said. "Really comfortable in the position."