Capitals Sign Ilya Protas & Cam Allen To Entry-Level Contracts

Ilya Protas said at the 2024 NHL Draft that he just wanted to be in the same NHL organization as his older brother, Aliaksei. On Saturday, that wish fully came to fruition as he, along with defensive prospect Cam Allen, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals.

Protas is the second 2024 draft pick to sign his ELC with the Capitals, who signed first-round selection Terik Parsacak on Friday.

Washington had traded up in the third round of this year's draft to take Protas 75th overall after his strong season with the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers, where he posted 14 goals and 37 assists for 51 points in 61 games.

The Belarus native uses his size to his advantage and is also a strong skater with a strong shot and a knack for the net. He can get to the high-danger areas, and he can also make plays on the fly and set his teammates up.

Related: Capitals Development Camp Notebook Day 5: Ryan Leonard Dominates, Gets Chippy To Lead Team To Championship In 3v3 Tournament

Protas has been in D.C. this past week for the organization's annual development camp and was among the standouts thanks to his size, skating and poise with the puck. The 6-foot-3 winger also found good chemistry on the ice with Ryan Leonard and helped his team win the camp's 3-on-3 tournament.

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"He's a great player, plays hard, takes the puck to the back of the net," Leonard said of Protas.

Protas went third overall in the CHL import draft to the Windsor Spitfires, and the plan is for him to play in the OHL this season.

Allen, meanwhile, was a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft (136th overall). He played in 25 games with the OHL's Guelph Storm this past season after dealing with injury, picking up two goals and seven assists, but showed a lot of promise at this week's development camp.

The 19-year-old has puck-moving potential and is a steady, smooth-skating defenseman. Expect him to make waves next season as he enters the year fully healthy with an NHL deal.