The Washington Capitals announced on Friday afternoon that they have recalled forward Aliaksei Protas from AHL Hershey. Protas was re-assigned to Hershey just prior to the start of the Capitals All-Star break and bye week.
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ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Aliaksei Protas from 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 eight games with Hershey this season, Protas has recorded five points (2g, 3a). 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 36 points (12g, 24a) in 66 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 recorded no goals and three assists in five games played with the Bears before returning to Washington.
Protas 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 to be re-assigned to Hershey on February 1.
The Viper Strikes! Hendrix Lapierre with a beautiful backhanded centering pass to Aliaksei Protas who sticks it out of the air. Bears trail 4-2 late.#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/bZTJl9fmDg
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) February 2, 2023
Protas recorded two goals in three games played during his most recent stint in Hershey.
By Jon Sorensen
Since Protas is back and there is very little chance of trading mantha without giving up assets and as Protas ahs been playing in Hershey while Mantha has been sitting would it not make more sense to play Protas and let Mantha sit? I realize that he has to play to have trade value but honestly with his lack of production and high salary I cant think of a team that would want him. So therefore as the Caps are stuck with him for the rest of this year and next unless a sucker comes along to take him off our hands without wanting a young player, draft pick or wanting to unload a high salary older player who is likewise unproductive on us then let him sit on in the rafters and eat popcorn. maybe just maybe he will ask to be released from his contract so he can go looking for a team on his own!!
“…. maybe just maybe he will ask to be released from his contract so he can go looking for a team on his own!!”
I’m hoping that was sarcasm. The only time I’ve ever heard of players asking to be let out of a contract, was to go back home to Europe, and Mantha is Canadian. Let’s put it this way: if you were being paid $5.7M next year to play a game, would you voluntarily give it up? Somehow, I doubt it.
Looks like Bears could use him tonight.
I see Martin Has is now in the Stingrays top pairing. I can’t figure him out.
I think they are doing a lot of experimenting. -2 plus minus but did score a goal with seconds left with his 1 sog. Otherwise, don’t remember his name called tonight for good or bad. Clay was backup. Bear had 1 assist, 0 sog, and 4 pim. Mass has 2 sog 2 pim.