Ilya Protas

Aliaksei Protas has gone five seasons without a power-play goal, which is the kind of odd little stat that lives rent-free in a locker room until somebody’s brother makes it awkward. Now Ilya Protas has jumped into the story with a power-play goal just two games into his NHL career, and that makes for a family comparison nobody could have scripted better.

Aliaksei Protas, Ovechkin's trusty linemate on the Capitals' top line, drops a bold take that the Great 8 has the legs to chase Gretzky's goal record well into his 40s. Protas knows the grind better than most, having logged heavy minutes alongside him all season, and he breaks down the keys - from Ovi's offseason regimen to his uncanny ability to stay fresh amid the league's brutal schedule.

Ilya Protas earns AHL Rookie of the Year for 2025-26, turning heads with his dominant season. Scouts peg him as a top prospect whose game screams NHL readiness sooner than later. Teams monitoring the Calder race already circle, knowing this award signals a fast track to the big leagues.

Scouts debate if Brady Knowling vaults to the top of the 2026 NHL Draft goaltender heap, with his tape turning heads stateside. American netminders rarely dominate rankings this early, but Knowling's tools force every GM to watch closely. The kid's rise could rewrite U.S. hockey's crease narrative.

Capitals' Ilya Protas opens up on his fresh nickname, teaming with brother Aliaksei, NHL milestones, and the Great 8's guiding hand. Family bonds in the league rarely click like this, but Ovechkin's shadow looms large over every rookie chat. Protas' story underscores how legacies shape the next wave in D.C.