Ilya Protas

Ilya Protas (Belarusian: Илья Уладзіміравіч Протас, Russian: Илья Владимирович Протас; born July 18, 2006) is a Belarusian professional ice hockey player who is a centre for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He made his professional debut in 2024 with the Hershey Bears.

Playing career
Protas began his junior career in 2023 playing for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). While playing for Des Moines, he was drafted 75th overall in the 2024 NHL entry draft by the Washington Capitals. He played in 61 games for the Buccaneers, scoring 14 goals and assisting on 37, for a total of 51 points.

For the 2024–25 season, Protas joined the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Playing in 61 games, Protas scored 50 goals and assisted on 74, for a total of 124 points. In twelve playoff games, he scored 5 goals and had 20 assists, for a total of 25 points.

Protas began the 2025–26 season playing for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. In 66 games, Protas scored 28 goals and 34 assists, for a total 62 points. Protas was called up to the Capitals on April 6, 2026. Protas scored his first NHL point during a 4–0 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 8, 2026, his debut game. He then scored his first career NHL goal in a 6–3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 11, 2026. He finished the NHL season with one goal and three assists in four games. On April 15, 2026, Protas was loaned back to Hershey. On April 23, 2026, Protas was awarded the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award, given to the "rookie of the year" in the AHL.