Capitals Activate Aliaksei Protas
The Capitals have activated winger Aliaksei Protas from injured reserve, per Sammi Silber of The Hockey News. He’ll be back in the lineup tonight against the Blackhawks. Winger Tom Wilson took his spot on IR to open a roster space, but he’ll be eligible to be activated as soon as Sunday.
Protas missed Washington’s last three games, sustaining a lower-body injury against the Senators on New Year’s Day. Now that he’s back, he’ll be looking to pick up where he left off. He’s on a five-game point streak, during which he has four goals and five assists for nine points.
The 6’6″ Belarusian hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down following last season’s 30-goal, 66-point breakout. His 16-15–31 scoring line through 41 appearances this year makes for a slightly decreased overall point pace, but he’s scoring goals at the same rate. He’s also doing so in a more sustainable manner, compensating for a 3.1% dip in shooting percentage by averaging 16% more shots on goal per game than he did in 2024-25.
He continues to be one of the Caps’ most feared possession threats at even strength, too. His +21 rating is second on the team behind Jakob Chychrun, and his 55.8 CF% is inferior only to Wilson’s.
That’s a big boost for a Washington team that’s dropped three out of its last four, now out of the playoff picture for the time being. Their strong advanced numbers and +14 goal differential suggest they should get back into position sooner rather than later, though, especially with key bodies in Protas and Wilson returning in short order.
Wilson, who left the lineup one game after Protas did with a lower-body issue, could get his feet back on the ice in Nashville this weekend. The newly tabbed Olympian is enjoying a career year at age 31, leading the Caps in scoring with 22 goals and 42 points in 41 games. His 22.7% shooting rate is nearly 10 points above his career average and won’t hold up, but the added offense is greatly appreciated in addition to his trademark hard-nosed play, leading Washington with 110 hits.
Capitals Recall Brett Leason
The Capitals have recalled winger Brett Leason to begin his second stint in Washington, according to a team announcement.
Leason’s return to the NHL coincides with an injury to Aliaksei Protas, who has missed the last two with a lower-body injury and has now landed on injured reserve as the corresponding move for his recall. He practiced this morning without a non-contact designation, though, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports. The IR placement rules Protas out of tonight’s game against the Stars, but he should be ready to go when he’s eligible to come off IR before Friday against the Blackhawks.
Now 26, Leason began his NHL career with the Caps as a second-round pick in 2019. He made his NHL debut two years later, scoring six points in 36 games, before the Ducks claimed him off waivers in the first few days of the 2022-23 season. Leason spent the following three seasons in Anaheim, emerging as an NHL regular. He put up a 22-26–48 scoring line in 184 games in SoCal, serving as an occasional penalty-killing option, before being non-tendered last offseason.
Somewhat surprisingly, Leason struggled to find an NHL contract. He was on Russia’s radar after sitting unsigned for a few weeks, but was insistent on continuing his career stateside. He eventually landed a professional tryout offer from the Wild but was released with a week left in training camp. He then settled for a minor-league tryout for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers before finally landing a two-way offer from Washington at the end of October.
He immediately cleared waivers and has since been suiting up for AHL Hershey, where the 6’5″ righty has six goals and 14 points in 20 games. With Protas banged up and Tom Wilson dealing with a lower-body injury that kept him out of Monday’s game against the Ducks, Leason projects to make his season debut in fourth-line duties tonight.
Injury Notes: Rangers, Capitals, Monahan
Colin Stephenson of Newsday Sports reported that Rangers captain J.T. Miller remains in a red no-contact jersey in practice this morning, while fellow forward Noah Laba was also a limited participant, skating on his own.
Miller has been out since December 20 after sustaining a hit versus Philadelphia, injuring his right shoulder. Subsequently, he was forced to miss the Winter Classic. Initially listed as week-to-week, the 32-year-old’s scoring has taken a step backwards so far this season, with 22 points in 35 games and a -11. However, once healthy, the veteran will lean into his imposing style and leadership on Team USA in the upcoming Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Laba is also week-to-week with an upper-body injury, after taking a hard hit from Tom Wilson on New Year’s Eve. The rookie was an everyday player before the injury, with 12 points in 42 games on Head Coach Mike Sullivan’s third line. In his absence, 35-year-old depth forward Justin Dowling has slotted in from the AHL, getting to make his Rangers debut under the bright lights in Miami.
New York hosts Utah tomorrow night, and will do so without Miller or Laba. It is safe to assume neither will return for another week or so, but the club hopes their resounding Winter Classic win over Florida will kickstart a playoff push in the New Year.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network provided several injury updates on the Capitals: Tom Wilson is receiving further evaluation, and a better indication on a return time frame should come tomorrow. Aliaksei Protas is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Finally, Justin Sourdif and Jakob Chychrun are absent, but just due to maintenance. Wilson left last night’s game, seeming to suffer an awkward ankle injury. The team desperately hopes he won’t be out long, as the 31-year-old is possibly having his best season yet, in year 13. Wilson has been a force, leading the team with 42 points in 41 games, while still maintaining his usual wrecking ball physicality. Such output is a new level for the veteran who has a career high of 65 points, coming last season. Protas, on the other hand, missed last night’s game, his first absence of the year. The towering power forward has produced right on track with last season’s 30-goal, 66-point breakout, and thankfully, should return quickly. Washington is right back in action tomorrow night, taking on Anaheim at home, where Wilson and Protas’ presence will be watched closely.
- Ahead of today’s matinee action against Pittsburgh, Columbus will be missing Sean Monahan again, as reported by Jeff Svoboda, official team reporter. The center hasn’t played since December 28, with no official injury designation listed, making today his fourth straight game sidelined. Monahan, 31, had a strong campaign in his first as a Jacket last season, posting 57 points in 54 games. Things have not gone as to plan this year, with 19 in 37 contests, as Monahan has rotated at times with fellow veteran Charlie Coyle between second and third line center duties. As noted by Svoboda, the club hopes Monahan can return sometime this week. Currently at the bottom of a very deep Metropolitan Division, the Blue Jackets face an uphill battle to end their five year postseason drought.
Metro Notes: Wilson, Zegras, Protas
The Washington Capitals are dealing with a high-level injury concern from their contest against the Chicago Blackhawks tonight. The Capitals announced that forward Tom Wilson is questionable to return after suffering a lower-body injury.
Wilson suffered the injury in the first period of tonight’s contest. Although the specifics of the injury are unknown at this time, Wilson appeared to awkwardly bend his right ankle after being on the receiving end of a reverse hit from Blackhawks’ defenseman Connor Murphy.
It would be a significant blow on a few fronts if Wilson is dealing with a longer-term ailment. He currently leads Washington in scoring with 22 goals and 42 points in 40 games, and was recently named to Team Canada for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics set to take place in February.
Other notes from the Metropolitan Division:
- In his recent mailbag, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic speculated what a potential extension might look like between the Philadelphia Flyers and Trevor Zegras. Without knowing details of hypothetical conversations, Kurz believes that a five-year, $45MM ($9MM AAV) sounds right for Zegras. A five-year extension for Zegras would buy out three years of his UFA-eligibility window, while a $9MM salary would make him the highest-paid forward on the team. Kurz also asserted that an extension between the Flyers and Zegras was inevitable.
- Wilson isn’t the only injured member of the Capitals’ forward core. Before tonight’s puck drops, Washington shared that Aliaksei Protas would miss the game due to a lower-body injury. Protas, 25, is the Capitals’ fifth-highest scorer with 16 goals and 31 points in 41 games with a +21 rating. He was relatively banged up in Washington’s recent loss to the Ottawa Senators, so he may only need a day to rest.
Snapshots: Rogers Place, Protas Brothers, Hemming
The city of Edmonton is one step closer to receiving a new fan park outside of Rogers Place, as the city council voted in favor of the proposed master agreement with Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG). This will clear the way for the proposed construction of the $250MM downtown event park, Village at Ice District land work, and demolition of the coliseum, per Keith Gerein of the Edmonton Journal.
The Edmonton Journal’s Zac Delaney offered additional insight, noting that the project aims to add a multi-season public event park to be constructed next to Rogers Place, while also handling the demolition of Northlands Coliseum, which has sat vacant for the last several years.
OEG said it is “excited” to have the master agreement finalized, per Delaney. OEG Sports and Entertainment executive vice-president Tim Shipton said the company is looking forward to receiving final approval in the fall to “get started on the transformational infrastructure projects.”
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- Washington Capitals’ forward Aliaksei Protas is coming off of a breakout campaign where he posted 30 goals and 66 points. However, he is just as focused on the continued development of his brother, Ilya Protas, who is working his way through Washington’s system. Speaking with the Belarus-based newspaper Vitbichi, the older Protas said he believes his brother, who was selected in the third round of the 2024 draft (75th overall), is primed for a strong season after working hard this offseason. Ilya put up monster numbers last year with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, posting 50 goals and 124 points in 61 games. His 50 goals and 74 assists last season both finished third in the OHL, while his 124 points trailed only Michael Misa‘s 134. “He is already an adult and he himself understands perfectly well that in order to get into a stronger league, you need to work hard in the locker room and on the ice,” Aliaksei said.
- The OHL’s Kitchener Rangers have signed forward Oscar Alexander Hemming to a league-standard deal, per a team release. Hemming, 17, spent last season at the U18 and U20 levels for Keikko-Espoo in the SM-sarja, Finland’s top junior league. In 31 games at the U18 level, the Finnish native posted 35 goals and 63 points. He added 10 points in 16 games at the U20 level, and an additional nine points in 13 playoff games. The 6’4″, 190-pound forward is the brother of Emil Hemming, who skated for the OHL’s Barrie Colts last season.
Capitals Notes: Ovechkin, Eller, Protas, Free Agents
It was locker clean-out day for the Capitals today after they were eliminated by Carolina earlier this week. At his end-of-season scrum (video link), winger Alex Ovechkin tried to brush aside any speculation about him not returning next season, indicating that he’s going to do his best to play. Ovechkin, of course, broke the all-time goal record this year which has led some to wonder if he might prefer to leave the NHL and perhaps return to finish his career at home. His comment about playing next season should tone that down.
However, with Ovechkin set to enter the final year of his contract in July, he’ll become eligible for a contract extension at that time. He noted that he hasn’t given any thought yet as to whether this would be his last one in the NHL or if he might be open to extending his stay. Considering that it’s quite unlikely that the 39-year-old would entertain NHL offers elsewhere next summer, this is a situation where it makes a lot of sense for both sides to wait and see how things are looking closer to this time a year from now before seriously assessing future plans.
More from Washington:
- Pending unrestricted free agent Lars Eller said in his scrum (video link) that he wants to keep playing next season, especially with his native Denmark qualifying for the upcoming Olympics. The 36-year-old was acquired from Pittsburgh early in the season and played in 80 games overall but managed just 10 goals and 12 assists; his 22 points were his lowest since his rookie year back in 2010-11. Eller might be best utilized as more of a fourth liner moving forward after playing on the third line for most of his career. Accordingly, he’s likely looking at a cut from the $2.45MM price tag he had the last two years.
- In his scrum earlier today (video link), center Aliaksei Protas indicated that he’ll have some testing done on his injured foot to see if any surgery will be required. The 24-year-old suffered the injury late in the regular season and missed the first four games of the Montreal series. This was a breakout year for Protas as he had 30 goals and 36 assists in 76 regular season games while chipping in with a goal and an assist in six playoff outings.
- Pending UFA wingers Anthony Beauvillier and Andrew Mangiapane haven’t had any extension talks yet with management, relays Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network (Twitter link). Beauvillier had 25 points in 81 games during the regular season and notched six more in their ten playoff contests, turning into a solid trade deadline pickup overall. Meanwhile, Mangiapane saw his output drop to 14 goals and 14 assists in 81 games after notching at least 40 points in the previous three seasons.
Capitals’ Aliaksei Protas, Logan Thompson To Be Game-Time Decisions
Sunday’s morning skate was more than encouraging for the Washington Capitals. Starting goaltender Logan Thompson took the ice and practiced in full just two days after sustained a knee injury in the waning minutes of Game 3. Thompson seemed down for the count after an awkward collision with teammate Dylan Strome, and Washington seemed set to turn towards backup Charlie Lindgren for the remainder of the First Round. But after Sunday’s practice, both Thompson and forward Aliaksei Protas – who has missed nine games due to a laceration on his foot – will be game-time decisions for Game 4, per NHL.com’s Dan Rosen.
The Capitals will be thrilled at the prospect of getting their hard-nosed starter back. Backup Lindgren has performed well enough when called upon this season, with a 20-14-3 record and .894 save percentage. But his performances have paled in comparison to the breakout season that Thompson managed. He recorded a dazzling 31-6-6 record and .910 save percentage in 43 starts this season. That save percentage ranks as the 11th-highest from any Capitals starter since 2000. He’s ranked behind four Braden Holtby seasons; one season from each of Olaf Kolzig, Tomas Vokoun, and Jose Theodore; and sprinkles of breakout years from Lindgren and Michal Neuvirth.
But Thompson’s seemed to shine just as bright, if not brighter, in the spotlight than many of his predecessors. He’s recorded a .917 save percentage through three playoff games this year – even despite allowing five goals in his last outing – and managed a .921 in four games of the Vegas Golden Knights’ run last season. Holding onto that level of play in the starter’s crease could be pivotal as Washington looks to buck a Game 3 loss and wrap up their first round series.
Protas will be just as dramatic of an addition. The 24-year-old forward had his own breakout campaign this year, scoring a career-high 30 goals and 66 points in 76 games – more than a full lap over the six goals and 29 points he scored in 78 games last season. Protas was the perfect fit in Washington’s top-six, offering a lumbering frame and quick cuts in the middle lane to compliment the fast-moving Connor McMichael or heavy-shooting Alex Ovechkin on the flanks. He will step straight into Washington’s top-six should he return for Game 4, likely bumping Taylor Raddysh or Brandon Duhaime out of the lineup in the process.
Eastern Notes: Montembeault, Protas, Korpi
Montreal Canadiens starting goalie Samuel Montembeault is being evaluated after leaving Friday’s game three victory over the Capitals, per NHL.com reporter Dan Rosen.
Head coach Martin St. Louis noted that Montembeault’s status for game four remains uncertain. The 28-year-old left during second period, appearing to be favoring his leg, and did not return. At the time, the game was tied 2-2, although the Habs were able to secure a 6-3 victory to pull closer in the series. In his place, Jakub Dobes was able to stop seven of eight shots he faced down the stretch. The 23-year-old finished the regular season with a 7-4-3 record to go along with an impressive .909 save percentage, which was actually eight percentage points higher than Montembeault’s regular season mark.
While St. Louis said he had “no idea” whether or not Montembeault would be ready for game four, he did discuss the confidence he has in his rookie netminder if he’s needed.
“I think what he did for us this year, he came in and had an incredible start, then he had a bit of a tougher stretch for a young goaltender but he finished strong,” said St. Louis of Dobes. “The last two games he played when you think about it, we needed those points, he played and he delivered good performances.”
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference:
- Washington’s Aliaksei Protas could return to action in tomorrow’s pivotal game four matchup against the Habs, per Bailey Johnson of the Washington Post. Coach Spencer Carbery said Protas was a full participate at practice and was able to take full contact. He added that the team will see how the forward responds tomorrow, but it looks promising that he will return to the lineup. Protas has been out of the lineup since April 4th after being cut on his foot by a skate. He burst onto the scene this season, scoring 30 goals and 66 points in 75 games. What’s more, he’s accomplished all these lofty totals while only registering one point on the power play. His 60 even-strength points at the time of his injury tied him with Mitch Marner for eighth place in the NHL.
- The Boston Bruins are turning their attention to next season and have invited goaltending prospect Cameron Korpi to their developmental camp, per
Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal. Korpi recently transferred from the University of Michigan to Union College. In one year at Michigan, the rising sophomore had a 7-6-1 record with a .901 save percentage. The 20-year-old is a native of Michigan and has played for various teams, including the Tri-City Storm in the USHL, the Oklahoma Warriors in the NAHL, and the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL.
Snapshots: Protas, DeMelo, Lightning, Miettinen
5:30 PM: Protas will not play in Game 3 on Friday, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. He will target a Game 4 return, while the Capitals will continue forward with Taylor Raddysh in the lineup.
4:00 PM: The Washington Capitals could be in store for a major addition to their postseason lineup, as top forward Aliaksei Protas continues to work his way back from a foot injury. Protas returned to full-contact practice on Friday morning and could step back into the lineup in Game 3, per Sammi Silber of The Hockey News. He has missed Washington’s last eight games after being cut by a skate on April 4th.
Protas was on the tail end of a loud breakout season at the time of his injury. He ranked third on the Capitals in scoring at the time, with 30 goals and 66 points in 75 games. He’s confidently lapped the six goals and 29 points he scored in 78 games last season. That rise in scoring has been largely helped along by Protas’ shooting percentage rising from 5.3 percent to 21.1 percent this season. But despite the inflated shooting percentage, Protas looked perfectly at home in the Capitals’ top-six and should return to a major role as soon as he’s back to full health. Protas recorded two assists in four playoff games last season – and will look to carry his booming shooting percentage into must-win games.
Other quick notes from around the league:
- It has been revealed that Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo missed Game 3 due to illness per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The Jets were bullied by the St. Louis Blues in DeMelo’s absence, dropping their first game of the postseason with a 7-3 loss. DeMelo was a major part of the Jets gameplan through Game 1 and 2. He averaged over 20 minutes of ice time between the two games and recorded one assist and a plus-two. DeMelo appeared in all 82 games of the Jets’ regular season. He scored 19 points and averaged 21:31 in ice time. Veteran defenseman Colin Miller stepped into the lineup for DeMelo and recorded one assist. But the Jets weren’t able to make up for the booming physical presence DeMelo brings. They’ll hope for a quick return to health before Game 4 on Sunday.
- Tampa Bay Lightning fans can breathe a sigh of relief after head coach Jon Cooper shared that both Yanni Gourde and Anthony Cirelli are expected to stay in the lineup, per NHL.com’s Benjamin Pierce. Both players missed Friday morning’s practice for undisclosed reasons. Neither player has found any scoring through two playoff games so far, though they’ve continued to serve physical roles from the team’s second-line. The band could be without their third in Tampa Bay’s next matchup, with left-winger Brandon Hagel facing a suspension after a dirty hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.
- Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen has signed an amateur try-out with the Coachella Valley Firebirds for the remainder of the season per the AHL Transactions Log. Miettinen sustained a lower-body injury at the World Junior Championship that held him out of a handful of games. Even through the injury, he managed a strong 11 goals and 39 points in 36 WHL game this season – a 0.06 point-per-game increase over his 67 points in 66 games last season. The six-foot-three Finn will bring a boost of heft and instinctive offense to the Firebirds lineup as they prepare for a series against the Calgary Wranglers.
Injury Notes: Cirelli, Pacioretty, Siegenthaler, Thomas, Protas
Lightning center Anthony Cirelli is a game-time decision for Game 2 vs. Florida tonight after departing Game 1 early with an undisclosed injury, tweets Colby Guy of the Palm Beach Post. It’s not yet certain whether Cirelli will participate in warm-ups. He initially left the game early in the second period after awkwardly landing a hit and only came back for a couple of shifts before sitting out the third period. If he’s not able to go for Game 2, it doesn’t look like he’ll carry anything more serious than a day-to-day designation and shouldn’t be ruled out when the series shifts to Sunrise for Game 3. Cirelli was a minus-two with just one shot on goal in 6:21 of action Tuesday, a rare statline for one of the league’s best two-way centers. Now in his eighth year in Tampa, Cirelli had a career-best +30 rating, 27 goals, and 59 points in the regular season.
Here are a few more injury-related notes from around the NHL:
- Maple Leafs winger Max Pacioretty will draw into the lineup for Game 3 on a line with Game 2 overtime hero Max Domi and Bobby McMann, according to line rushes at morning skate (via Chris Johnston of The Athletic and TSN). He’s been out since the 4 Nations break with an undisclosed injury, but was available if needed for Games 1 and 2. After sitting as a healthy scratch, he’ll come in for Nicholas Robertson, who has an assist in the series but just one shot attempt in over 20 minutes of ice time across the two games. The 36-year-old Pacioretty scored 5-8–13 in 37 regular-season games for the Leafs between injury-related absences.
- Devils rearguard Jonas Siegenthaler practiced today for the first time since undergoing lower-body surgery in February, tweets the team’s Amanda Stein. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said they’re “getting more aggressive with [his timeline] now to see how we can push it just given the circumstances,” via NHL.com’s Mike Morreale. New Jersey went without defenders Brenden Dillon and Luke Hughes in Game 2 and isn’t expecting to get either back for Game 3 against Carolina tomorrow.
- Blues star Robert Thomas, who missed practice yesterday for rest/maintenance, was at today’s morning skate and is good to go for tonight’s Game 3, per Tracey Myers of NHL.com. The 25-year-old center is dealing with a minor lower-body injury he sustained in the final game of the regular season. He scored the series’ opening goal but has otherwise gone without a point and has a minus-four rating as St. Louis trails Winnipeg 2-0.
- Capitals winger Aliaksei Protas is inching closer to a return and will at least travel with Washington for Games 3 and 4 in Montreal, head coach Spencer Carbery said (via Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network). The breakout Belarusian hasn’t played since sustaining a skate cut on his foot on April 4. Washington has overcome the loss of his 30 goals and 66 points so far with a 2-0 series lead, but a return would be big news nonetheless to help close the door for Montreal to gain momentum.