The Washington Capitals were the NHL's biggest surprise last season.
With little expectation of even competing for a playoff spot, the Caps shocked the hockey world by winning not only the Metropolitan Division but the Eastern Conference as a whole.
They're running back a similar group in 2025-26, hoping that their young talent continues to improve alongside the established veterans in place.
That combination was a huge part of the Capitals' success last year, and there may not have been a more important player to that success than Aliaksei Protas. The 6'6", 250-pound forward broke out in a big way last season, more than doubling his production in every statistical category.
While he still may not be too well-known around the league, his Washington teammates have certainly learned to appreciate his abilities, and Ryan Leonard says they call him the best player in the league. Team reporter Sammi Silber shared his comments about Protas on X (formerly Twitter).
"Made in a laboratory. It's crazy. We all say he's the best player in the league, so it's special. He's a special player," Leonard said.
Ryan Leonard on Aliaksei Protas' skating and ability at 6-foot-6:
— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) October 12, 2025
"Made in a laboratory. It's crazy. We all say he's the best player in the league, so it's special. He's a special player."#ALLCAPS
The 24-year-old Protas just began the second season of the five-year, $16.875 million contract extension he signed with the Capitals in 2024.
Another strong start for Protas
If anyone thought Aliaksei Protas' production in 2024-25 was an outlier, then he's proven them wrong already to start the new season.
Protas leads the team in goals and points through three games, having tallied two goals and two assists for four points thus far.
It took a few years for the Belarusian forward to develop, but we're now seeing just how dominant a player he can be with that size and skill.
He and the Capitals will look to keep the good times rolling when they host the reeling Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night in Washington.