HIGHLIGHTS
- Ilya Protas will make his NHL debut Wednesday night in Toronto, centering a line with older brother Aliaksei and Tom Wilson
- The three combine for 673 pounds and 19 feet, 3 inches. Tom Wilson is the small one on the line
- Full story on the Protas brothers, what Ilya has done in the AHL, and what to expect from his debut below
Ilya Protas is making his NHL debut Wednesday night in Toronto. He will center a line between older brother Aliaksei and Tom Wilson.
That line combines for 673 pounds and 19 feet, 3 inches. Tom Wilson, at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, is the small guy.
Capitals announce they've recalled Ilya Protas (AKA "Little Pro" at 6-6, 225) from Hershey of the AHL. 19-year-old could make his NHL debut as soon as Wednesday…
— GameDayNewsNHL (@GameDayNewsNHL) April 6, 2026
Ilya is 19 years old, 6-foot-6, and 225 pounds out of Minsk, Belarus. Washington drafted him in the third round (75th overall) in 2024, the same round his brother Aliaksei went in 2019. He has led all AHL rookies this season with 62 points (28 goals, 34 assists) in 66 games with the Hershey Bears, and came in off a six-point night against Hartford on Saturday.
The three of them combine for 53 goals and 107 NHL points this season. Ilya is not included in those totals.
People are already comparing this line to the Legion of Doom, the famous mid-90s Flyers combination of Eric Lindros, John LeClair, and Mikael Renberg. Size-wise, they have a case. The difference is the Protas brothers are still growing into their bodies. Aliaksei already defies physics a little, big enough to do what he does at the pace he does it. Ilya is the same type.
Ilya Protas practices with the Capitals for the first time, skates on line with his older brother, Aliaksei Protas, and Tom Wilson
— RMNB (@rmnb) April 7, 2026
The Protas brothers will become the fourth pair of siblings to play for the Capitals, joining the Miller brothers (Kelly, Kevin, Kip), the Hunter brothers (Dale and Mark), and the Ferraro brothers (Chris and Peter). Both were taken in the third round by Washington, same organization, same path.
He also got second power-play reps at Tuesday’s practice, holding Alex Ovechkin’s spot while the captain took a maintenance day. Spencer Carbery put him right into the deep end.
When he steps on the ice Wednesday, Ilya will be the third Capital to make his NHL debut this season, joining Cole Hutson and Bogdan Trineyev. Washington is 87 points and fighting for a playoff spot in the Metro with five games left. This isn’t a cameo at the end of a lost season.
