“Guys like that, you don’t go at them hard, you direct them in the right way,” - Derek King
It’s rare for a rookie to stand out on the Hershey Bears. The most decorated team in the American Hockey League (AHL) is known for a veteran presence that leads the way, while the younger players follow in their footsteps. This season, two rookies have stood out for the Bears, with Andrew Cristall and Ilya Protas putting together remarkable seasons.
The two prospects in the Washington Capitals system lead the Bears in points and are the driving forces of their offense. Protas, however, is in a different category, which is why he’s not treated like a typical prospect. “Guys like that, you don’t go at them hard, you direct them in the right way,” Bears head coach Derek King noted in a conversation with The Hockey News.
Protas isn’t just a good player but a complete top-line center who is already turning heads in the AHL. He’s bound to be on an NHL team soon enough, especially after this season he’s putting together at only 19 years old.
The Skill Stands Out
Protas has 24 goals and 25 assists in 58 games, but of course, the stats can tell the story. Even at his size, he moves around with quickness and handles the puck through the zone. “Protas, he’s from that hockey family, he just gets it. He’s got a lot of skill, he creates stuff,” King mentioned, referencing the talents of his older brother Aleksei Protas, who has made his mark lately as a powerful two-way forward.
The future of the NHL, with the game being faster and more skilled, is the power forward who can do it all. The Connor McDavid, Matthew Tkachuk, Mikko Rantanen, and Nathan MacKinnon types come to mind as the bigger skaters who can play in all situations.
Protas is one of those players. He’s 6-foot-6 and weighs 225 pounds, yet has the quick stick to make plays on the rush and find open skaters or the back of the net. It’s made it easy for Capitals fans to compare him to his older brother.
Protas Plays a Complete Game
The offense is what grabs people’s attention, and like his brother, his play on the defensive end is great yet goes unnoticed most of the time. Protas can control the middle of the ice and dictate play.
Along with the defense comes the physical brand of hockey. Protas will deliver a big hit and win puck battles. Likewise, he’s a great skater who can play a speed-based game. Every NHL team looks for versatility in its prospects and those who can adapt in all situations. “He’s so long, unbelievable hands, the shot, he’s got it all, and he’s a super competitive guy. He loves to be on the ice,” Cristall stated on the top-line center.
Capitals Have Another Game-Changing Center in the System
The Capitals managed to retool on the fly thanks to a few strong signings and the development of prospects. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Dylan Strome, two castoffs from other teams, strengthened them up the middle while the older Protas developed into a power forward to use in all situations.
The clock is ticking on the Alexander Ovechkin tenure, one that presumably will end after this season. When Ovechkin retires, the Capitals will need a youth movement to keep them competitive. Protas gives them plenty of hope, and Cristall adds a little more in the process. “From what I’ve seen from the young guys, they are pretty mature and obviously, the coaching has rubbed off on them as well,” the newly acquired Wyatt Bongiovanni stated.
While the 19-year-old Protas is still a year, if not more, away from making a significant impact at the NHL level. Yet, it’s a matter of time before he does, and suddenly, a team that’s been built around one of the game's greatest wingers of all time will be built up the middle.
Where Protas Must Improve
Protas still has his lapses on the defensive end. He’s got all the talent to be great defensively, yet he’ll have his lapses or make noticeable mistakes in his own end. It’s expected at his age, especially at the center position, which causes young players to make mistakes.
The other underlying theme to Protas and his game is that he’ll make rookie mistakes. Yes, he’s mature and ahead of schedule. That said, he’s overconfident in his ability, especially when he has the puck. “There are still times in his game, he gets a little too cute, and he’s got to learn the difference between risk and reward,” King added on his top player.
Over time, this will improve. Until then, the Bears will benefit the most from Protas and his play on the offensive end. They have a star to lean on, and that’s what they do, allowing them to remain in the mix with the season heating up.