[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Aliaksei's Brother):

LW/C Ilya Protas has adjusted well to hockey in North America after coming across the pond from Belarus, but his journey through his first season in the USHL had it's challenges- namely the fact that his team, the Des Moines Bucaneers, were one of the worst teams in the circuit, and 4th-worst out of 16 teams in scoring goals. Ilya is the younger brother of Washington Capitals' center Aliaksei Protas, who the Caps took in the third round, 91st overall, in the 2019 Draft, and is rather young with a July 18th birthday. For the Bucs this season, he managed to post 14 goals and 37 assists for 51 points in 61 games, good for 2nd in scoring on the team by 8 points, and he posted the best +/- with a +6. The 6'3" (some say 6'4"), 183lb forward, who can play center or wing, was named to the USHL All-Rookie First Team, and is drawing a lot of interest lately because he's simply one of the most improved players in the league with 21 of his points coming in the last 20 games of the season. He plays a style quite similar to his older brother's, so the uptick in his offense has scouts looking to duplicate the success that the Capitals' had in drafting Aliaksei, and he's getting some love in recent mock drafts. Central Scouting has taken notice too, naming Ilya the 49th-best North American Skater in their latest rankings, after leaving him off the list entirely in the preliminary, and mid-term lists.

Just to get it out of the way, Protas is not a good skater and doesn't have good edgework, agility, or acceleration. His lack of speed is evident in everything he does, and although he's helped a bit by having long legs and keeping them working hard, his mobility is deficient. He's big and skilled though, with pretty good vision and IQ in making plays, and his 37 assists are tied for 18th in the USHL. He employs a safe and simple style based on possession and limiting mistakes and giveaways, and plays well in small spaces. He's competitive with a good motor, works hard, and stays steadfast under pressure. Though his game is heavily slanted towards playmaking, he possesses a hard, deceptive shot that can fool goalies, and he would make himself more unpredictable if he would use it more. Protas uses his size to protect the puck well, and will wield his body as leverage to win pucks in the hard areas of the ice, but he isn't very physical. He will bump opponents off the puck when he has to, and will lean into defenders when cutting to the slot, or corral attackers along the wall, but he could be a force if he played a bit more of a power game.

Protas' advanced stats paint a picture of a player that tilts the ice in his team's favour towards the offensive zone, and shuts down opponents defensively. The Bucaneers coaching staff trusts him with PK duty, and he gets a fairly high amount of defensive zone starts. He shows razor-sharp awareness in his own zone, and employs a lively stick with a long reach. Along with his mobility, his puck-skills are lacking, and his handling is a bit clunky- he fans on a lot of shots and passes, and can bobble puck receptions. Like his older brother, he most likely projects as a bottom-6 defensive center, and there's nothing wrong with that. Look for him anywhere from the 5th to the 7th round.