Harry Lichtman
The future is bright for Washington Capitals prospect Ilya Protas. Aliaksei’s younger brother was just named AHL rookie of the year for his performance with the Hershey Bears.
On Thursday, Protas won the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s most outstanding rookie for 2025-26. The 19-year-old now joins Ron Hextall as the second Hershey player to win the award.
Protas led all AHL rookies in scoring with 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) in 69 games, the fourth-most points by a teenager. He also led the Bears in goals, power-play goals, shots on goal (147), and plus-minus (17) this season.
The 19-year-old eventually got called up to the Capitals to help them make a late playoff push. Protas recorded a goal and three assists for four points in four games, which the Capitals ultimately won down the stretch.
Protas will most likely make the full-time jump to the NHL next season. For now, he is back down with Hershey for the Calder Cup Playoffs, centering the first line. He scored a goal to help the Bears beat the Bridgeport Islanders in Game 1.
