While the 2022-23 season for the Washington Capitals will be considered “lost” with the team’s failure to make the playoffs, there were a few bright spots. One of those was the emergence of Aliaksei Protas as a full-time NHL player.
Protas won a spot on the opening night roster in training camp over Connor McMichael, despite the latter being widely viewed as the better prospect. Protas took the opportunity and ran with it. As the team got healthier, Protas, who was waivers exempt, had stints in the AHL, but never let it deter him.