The Washington Capitals announced on Monday morning that they have recalled center Aliaksei Protas from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) and have placed center Nic Dowd on the Injured Reserve list.
Dowd originally sustained a lower-body injury after playing 14:08 in last Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames. Dowd will be eligible to return Nov 4 at Florida. (IR designation is retroactive to Oct 27).
Protas, 20, has four points (1g, 3a) in six games with Hershey this season and his three assists are tied for the fifth most on the Bears.
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby to Aliaksei Protas for the game’ first score. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/fzN5RLVk4q
— Jon Sorensen (@jon_m_sorensen) October 22, 2021
Protas is a 6’6”, 210 lb left-handed center, drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third round (#91 overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old Belarusian spent last season playing for Dinamo Minsk in the KHL and the Hershey Bears in the AHL. He also played for the Belarus national team this spring in the World Championship. Protas signed a three-year entry-level contract for $825,833 AAV on July 10, 2019.
[Aliaksei Protas: 2021 Annual Review and Forecast]
Protas recorded 18 points (10g, 8a) in 58 regular season games with Dinamo Minsk during the 2020-21 season. The Vitebsk, Belarus, native tied for fifth on the team in goals and tied for eighth in points, despite ranking 15th in time on ice per game (12:52) among Dinamo Minsk skaters with at least 30 games played.
Вот так Алексей Протас броском слету открывает счёт 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tqbFDLZ7Dd
— ХК Динамо-Минск | HC Dinamo Minsk (@hcdinamoby) January 29, 2021
Protas was re-assigned to Hershey on March 18 and made his AHL debut on March 31. He recorded seven points (2g, 5a) in 16 games with Hershey. Additionally, Protas represented Belarus at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, recording two assists in six games.
Protas is on the ice for optional morning skate. Laviolette didn’t say if he was in the lineup for tonight, said they were still working through some things.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 1, 2021
The Capitals face the Lightning tonight in Tampa. Puck drop is set for just after 7:00 PM.
By Jon Sorensen
A bit surprised. Axel Jonsson-Fjallby is by far the hottest forward right now in Hershey, and no longer requires waivers. Maybe they are looking for a straight bottom six forward.
Still no Shane! WHY?
I think this is also an indication that Hendrix is on his way out soon, which is why I think they added a Center.