Who will take the Pacific Division at the end of the NHL season. Liam Greentree (left) and Ilya Protas (right) playing for Windsor this season [Natalie Shaver/OHL Images]. [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/fa23d6ea-efea-4d9c-b5a4-16b1d67db8e9.webp] Liam Greentree (left) and Ilya Protas (right) playing for Windsor this season [Natalie Shaver/OHL Images]. This OHL season we have witnessed individual players hit some incredible milestones in terms of points. Look no further than 2007-born forward Michael Misa [https://chl.ca/ohl/players/8769/] who is on pace to finish the season with 135 points which would make him the 12th highest scoring 12-year-old in OHL history. Meanwhile, Nick Lardis [https://chl.ca/ohl/players/8350/]' 70 goals places him seventh on the all-time list in terms of goals scored in a single OHL season. If he manages to hit 76 (which he is on pace to do), he will take fifth place away from none other than John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs. While we've devoted ample time to covering these achievements, there are others that deserve a bit more attention. Namely, who is the deadliest forward tandem in the OHL right now? That question has one emphatic answer: Ilya Protas [https://chl.ca/ohl/players/9103/] and Liam Greentree [https://chl.ca/ohl/players/8709/] of the Windsor Spitfires. With 45 goals apiece, the pair have scored a combined 118 points for their team with Greentree leading the pair by just two assists. A more balanced partnership you couldn't find. "They're very dynamic together," said Spitfires Head Coach Greg Walters. "We're lucky to have both of them." ILYA PROTAS Protas, a 6-foot-5 Belarussian forward, is in the midst of his first OHL campaign after playing for Des Moines in the USHL [https://thehockeynews.com/ushl] last season. During his rookie campaign in Des Moines, Protas finished third in rookie scoring with 51 points in 61 games. The Washington Capitals selected the big forward with a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. "Ilya plays up the middle," said Walters. "He has a very high end hockey sense and an NHL stick away from the puck ... He's very mature defensively and is very patient." Walters uses Protas in all situations, putting him out both on the power play and penalty kill. Due to this kind of usage, Protas averages over 22 minutes a night, which is the second most on the team. Now in just under 60 OHL games, Protas has recorded 108 points which is just under a two point-per-game average. "My goal was kind of around this number," said Protas. "I didn't really expect I would get there, but I am happy I did." In talking about Protas, Greentree was quick to describe their play on ice as dynamic. Capitals' Prospect Becomes Highest Scoring Import Player In Spitfires' History [https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/deweb-519a7.appspot.com/o/posts%2FTHNOHL%2Fcontent-images%2Fe95a7fe8-1306-4f4c-a583-55d70928dc2d.jpeg?alt=media] Capitals' Prospect Becomes Highest Scoring Import Player In Spitfires' History Ilya Protas is now the highest-scoring import player in Windsor Spitfires' history. The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/">Washington Capitals</a>' prospect picked up a pair of goals in Sunday's contest against Saginaw to claim the title. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/capitals-prospect-becomes-highest-scoring-import-player-in-spitfires-history] "We know each other's game and play off each other," said Greentree. "When I'm not having a good night, he definitely brings me up and the same is true the other way." Based on this season, Protas looks to be an absolute steal for Washington in the draft. His size, skill and hockey sense could easily mean he becomes an impact player at the next level. LIAM GREENTREE Greentree, a 6-foot-4 forward, was the LA Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/]' first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He's currently in the midst of his third season with Windsor and his second season as team captain. "Liam is a powerful, rugged forward who fights and has a great shot," said Walters. "His 200-foot game has come so far since the start of the year. We're really proud of him." The Oshawa native leads the tandem in points with 110 points in 60 games, which is just under a two-point-per-game average. This total is already 20 points higher than his 90 point finish last season. The young star has 24 points in his last 10 games, meaning he has averaged 2.4 points per game during that time. That is a better points per game than Misa (1.8) in the same time period. "We had chemistry right away," said Protas. "What I saw right away was his offensive potential ... He protects pucks and creates offensive opportunities." Like Protas, Greentree plays big minutes for Windsor in all situations. He averages just under 22 minutes a night. LA Kings sign first-round pick Liam Greentree [https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/MjA3OTkwNjA1NTQyODYwNDMy/greentree_ld_a26p7053.jpg] LA Kings sign first-round pick Liam Greentree The Kings signed their first-round pick to a three-year, entry-level contract. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/la-kings-sign-first-round-pick-liam-greentree] Greentree's rugged style of play is one of the things Kings fans will love about this young player. He has no fear going into corners and doing whatever is necessary to win games for his team. While this does result in him averaging roughly two penalty minutes per game, it also has a heavy impact on opposing teams. LOOKING AHEAD These two big young forwards are wrecking balls that go to work creating offense all over the ice while helping their team to keep pucks out of their net. Together, they have done so much to help Windsor reach their current heights. Their 90 combined goals accounts for 32.6 percent of Windsor's total goals this season. It's remarkable that both players are on pace to finish the season with 50 goals. The only tandem of forwards that comes close to their production is Nick Lardis and Patrick Thomas [https://chl.ca/ohl/players/8641/], who are a handful of points behind the Windsor duo. Whatever team comes up against the Spitfires in the playoffs will undoubtedly need to come up with a plan to deal with Protas and Greentree or risk having them run rampant. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
