Will The Capitals Call Up Ilya Protas? Current Plan As Prospect Shines In Hershey
The Capitals are keeping a close eye on Ilya Protas as he thrives at the AHL level.
Ilya Protas is a subject that comes up quite often — every day, actually — for the Washington Capitals.
The budding prospect and younger brother of Capitals breakout winger Aliaksei is off to a red-hot start to his AHL career, with nine goals and eight assists for 17 points through his first 18 games with the Hershey Bears.
"Little Pro comes up every day, and it's not about him being called up, it's just us keeping tabs on Hershey, what's going on there, watching the highlights, reading the reports, having discussions after we watch some of the footage or hear some of the feedback from the coaches there, management or scouts," coach Spencer Carbery said. "I think the organization — I'm not going to speak for (general manager Chris Patrick), but he's doing really really well down there, so that's very exciting. You love to see that."
Protas has goals in seven straight games, but beyond the production, the 6-foot-6 center is taking well to the pro game, using his size, speed and creativity to his advantage.
With how quickly he's taking to the pros, and with Hendrix Lapierre playing limited minutes in a fourth-line center role amid Nic Dowd and Pierre-Luc Dubois' absences up front, the question was raised as to whether or not the Capitals would recall the 19-year-old.
"Where your mind goes next is, 'Okay, when can he come up here and do those same types of things?'" Carbery admitted.
However, the plan is to continuing to let him develop as a rookie at the AHL level and, as was the case in juniors last season, letting him succeed and star among rookies while evolving his game. Then, when he's ready, he can make a run for a roster spot up with Washington.
"It's just a matter of young player doing very well in the American Hockey League, developing, from all accounts, production-wise. Everything that we're hearing from there is that he's doing a great job," Carbery said. "So it's just continuing to develop and work at your game. The time will come."
Ilya Protas’s 7-game goal streak
1st goal of streak – Nov 14 @ Syracuse
2nd goal of streak – Nov 15 @ Lehigh Valley
3rd goal of streak – Nov 16 vs Lehigh Valley
4th goal of streak – Nov 20 @ Cleveland
5th goal of streak – Nov 22 @ Cleveland
6th goal of streak – Nov 26 vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
YANKEES DECLARE WAR, Projected To Secure Pitching EMPIRE With A Stunning 7-Year, $196M MEGA-EXTENSION
The New York Yankees, baseball’s storied powerhouse, aren’t content with just being “one of the best.” After a heartbreaking World Series defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, the Bronx Bombers are gearing up for an all-out assault on the American League East—and they’re not afraid to break the bank to do it.
Last season, the Yankees found themselves trailing the surging Toronto Blue Jays, who wasted no time bolstering their rotation by reportedly snagging ace Dylan Cease. To avoid slipping further behind in a fiercely competitive division, New York must strike boldly in free agency. Enter the bold projection from Jackson Roberts of Fastball OnSi: the Yankees are poised to land Japanese sensation Tatsuya Imai with a jaw-dropping seven-year, $196 million mega-extension that could redefine their pitching empire.
“While we’re not going to rule the Los Angeles Dodgers out based on Imai’s comments that he’d rather beat the defending World Series champions than join them, there are likely going to be teams that love that mentality so much that they’re willing to throw a few extra dollars his way,” Roberts penned in his analysis. “And although owner Hal Steinbrenner keeps talking about tightening the purse strings, ultimately, the New York Yankees still have it in them to beat out just about any foe for a free agent when they feel like doing so.”
Sure, the Yankees’ rotation isn’t in dire straits— they’ve got talent in spades. But imagine slotting Imai, a flame-throwing phenom with pinpoint control and a warrior’s mindset, into the mix. It wouldn’t just plug a gap; it would catapult them into elite territory, making their staff a nightmare for opposing hitters.
Of course, New York’s top offseason priority remains re-signing slugger Cody Bellinger, whose bat could anchor the lineup for years to come. But pairing him with Imai? That’s not just a move—it’s a masterstroke. Imai has openly voiced his burning desire to topple the Dodgers, echoing the Yankees’ own unfinished business after that gut-wrenching 2024 Fall Classic loss.
As the MLB offseason heats up, both Bellinger and Imai are laser-focused on peak conditioning, honing their skills, and priming for dominance. Wherever they land, these stars are locked in on delivering championship-caliber performances. For the Yankees, securing Imai could be the declaration of war that turns the tide, proving once again why the pinstripes are synonymous with victory. Will Steinbrenner pull the trigger? The baseball world is watching.
