The Belarusian forward will spend the 2024-25 season in Windsor as he continues to develop.

On Wednesday, Ilya Protas put pen to paper and signed with the Windsor Spitfires for the 2024-25 season. The Spitfires drafted Protas third overall in the 2024 CHL Import draft earlier this month. 

"It is an honour to sign with such a great organization," said Protas. "It felt good to get drafted by Windsor and I am excited to get started."

Protas spent last season in the USHL playing for the Des Moines Buccaneers. The 6-foot-4 forward, from Vitebsk Belarus, scored 14 goals and added 37 assists for a total of 51 points in 61 games. Not only was that good enough for second on his own team, but third in rookie scoring. 

In recognition of Protas' dazzling rookie campaign, he was named to the USHL all-rookie team. 

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"Ilya is an NHL-signed player that can play in any situation and any forward position," said Windsor GM Bill Bowler. "He is a big body and will have an immediate impact with our hockey club."

With his size, Protas is a massive (literally) presence in front of the net. He often makes use of his size to screen goaltenders before fighting off defenders and digging for pucks around the net. 

Protas is an unselfish player who it could even be said has a slight tendency to defer to his teammates rather than call his own number. He will often use his size and speed to get into a dangerous position before handing the puck to a teammate for the finishing shot. 

The Washington Capitals selected Protas with the team's third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. His older brother Alexei Protas played 78 games for the Washington Capitals last season. 

At 18-years-old, Protas still has lots of time to develop before thinking about potentially joining his brother with the Capitals. Windsor will be an excellent place for him to continue to improve. 

Based on the comments from Bowler, it seems likely that Protas will slot into the Spitfires roster amongst the top six forwards. That would give him the opportunity to play with fellow 2024 NHL Draft picks A.J. Spellacy and Liam Greentree. 

Last year, Windsor missed the playoffs and finished last in the Western Conference. Fans will have to hope that offseason additions like Protas and first-overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection Ethan Belchetz can bring a new energy to a group that struggled at times last season.