The Washington Capitals announced on Wednesday morning that they have loaned forward Aliaksei Protas to the Hershey Bears.
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ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have loaned forward Aliaksei Protas to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Protas, 22, has recorded 10 points (3g, 7a) in 42 games with Washington this season. The 6’6″, 235-pound forward appeared in 33 games with Washington during the 2021-22 season, ranking second among Capitals rookies in plus/minus (+4) and third in points (9). In 75 career NHL games with the Capitals, Protas has recorded 19 points (6g, 13a).
In five games with Hershey this season, Protas has recorded three assists. The Vitebsk, Belarus native recorded 24 points (8g, 16a) in 42 games with the Bears in 2021-22, establishing AHL career highs in goals, assists, points and power play goals (2) and earning Hershey’s Rookie of the Year award. Protas has recorded 34 points (10g, 24a) in 63 career AHL games with Hershey.
The Capitals selected Protas with their third-round pick, 91st overall, in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Protas, who is waivers-exempt, started the season with the Capitals, but was sent to Hershey on January 7. He was recalled by the Capitals on January 18 in time for the Capitals western road trip and played in one game against (Colorado Avalanche) prior to today’s re-assignment.
The move allows Protas to continue playing during the Capitals current All-Star break and bye week. The Bears next visit the Lehigh Valley Phantoms tonight in Allentown, PA.
By Jon Sorensen
not surprised
Good, he needs the ice time. But I’m surprised that the CBA doesn’t require that teams must give players x days time off during the All Star break and allows players to play during that time. I remember the fine for actually flying during the winter break.
AHL break is Feb 4-10 iirc
That’s correct. He should get three games this week, and then a vacation.
Ahh, that makes more sense.
Great move as he needs ice time and so does Alexeyev. Cant they send him to Hershey for conditioning during the all-star break and their week off?
Alexeyev would be required to clear waivers to return to Hershey.
Not sure if it’s appropriate to leave this comment here, but why not?
Why hasn’t DC had an NHL All Star game since 1982?
Why hasn’t DC hosted the Entry Draft?
Does the Board of Governors have something against Leonsis?
Tune in tomorrow, same Bat Time, same Bat Channel
Washington D.C. is a rather compact city without a lot of room to host major events like an All-Star Weekend that would likely require street closures and other difficulties for citizens of the city. Security would also be an issue as a host of tourists would be pouring into one of the most security-tight cities in the nation. As hotel space in DMV is there, public transportation from outside DC is terrible And to be honest I do not think that the NHL likes or respects Leonsis. Although the arena is the 14th largest, (18500), it is better to use public transportation that look for parking around the stadium. I found the one is Tampa so easy to get in and out of and to drive to and parking was very reasonable $10; where the one time I drove to DC parking was $50 and that was 25 years ago. Also Washington offers nothing of interest except museums and monuments for people. There is no beach here and traffic in rush hour is a joke.
I’m not buying that. The 2018 MLB All Star game was held in DC. If MLB is OK with a “compact city”, and the security and traffic problems that DC poses (which would exist in any downtown arena or stadium, no matter the city), then I doubt the NHL would have a problem with it either. I think it’s a simple fact that Leonsis isn’t well liked in NHL circles. I’ve heard a whisper or two about it before. This is circumstantial evidence that that may be the case.
I’ve heard rumors that Ted prefers outdoor games to holding an All-Star game, and has made the case as such to the league. Just rumors, but makes $$ sense.