Prospect Info: Caps Prospects General Discussion Thread - 2024-25

[IsThatSemin]

Neither of those necessarily equates to strength, but ok.

Boxing commissions would disagree

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Boxing commissions would disagree

Try taking a shot from little Floyd Mayweather lol….

 

[Langway]

Protas with 1+2 through two periods, cooking with Greentree once again.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Protas with 1+2 through two periods, cooking with Greentree once again.

Lil Pro appears to be a possible stud. Like Big Pro…but better.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Better? That’s spicy meatball you are cooking up

 

[Langway]

I don't know about Ilya's tenacity yet. He gets targeted a bit and once in a while gives it back but it doesn't really get tested too strenuously. Against London next round the pace/intensity should be a much better barometer...

The hockey IQ may be a bit better than his big brother. It remains to be seen if he'll manage to continually improve and work on his game like Aliaksei has. He'll need to develop some degree of a power game in time, which you'd think should happen once he fills out even more. At the same age Ilya is the better finisher, though in the playoffs thus far he's largely defaulted to playmaker mode setting up linemates Greentree/Morneau.

 

[IsThatSemin]

Try taking a shot from little Floyd Mayweather lol….

Haha he’d have to be able to hit me first

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Haha he’d have to be able to hit me first

Flight is your only option!

 

[stephenball]

I don't know about Ilya's tenacity yet. He gets targeted a bit and once in a while gives it back but it doesn't really get tested too strenuously. Against London next round the pace/intensity should be a much better barometer...

The hockey IQ may be a bit better than his big brother. It remains to be seen if he'll manage to continually improve and work on his game like Aliaksei has. He'll need to develop some degree of a power game in time, which you'd think should happen once he fills out even more. At the same age Ilya is the better finisher, though in the playoffs thus far he's largely defaulted to playmaker mode setting up linemates Greentree/Morneau.

Didn’t the OHL coaches list him as the best playmaker in the league or something? I watched the highlights of todays game, he does seem to have great offensive awareness

 

[Cush]

Cristall 1 assist in a loss
Protas Jr 1+3

 

[trick9]

I don't know about Ilya's tenacity yet. He gets targeted a bit and once in a while gives it back but it doesn't really get tested too strenuously. Against London next round the pace/intensity should be a much better barometer...

The hockey IQ may be a bit better than his big brother. It remains to be seen if he'll manage to continually improve and work on his game like Aliaksei has. He'll need to develop some degree of a power game in time, which you'd think should happen once he fills out even more. At the same age Ilya is the better finisher, though in the playoffs thus far he's largely defaulted to playmaker mode setting up linemates Greentree/Morneau.

Think you can see a glimpse of power game watching his goal in that game... takes a shot through D's skates, doesn't skate to corner admiring his shot but rather skates past the first D right towards the crease and basically just skates through the 2nd D and bulls his way right through the crease knocking the puck into the net on his way. D had no chance to stop him and even the net went flying, the goalie was lucky he didn't get in the way there.

Definitely interesting to see where he plays next season. He has no business playing in the OHL. There's really nothing for him there after 148 points in 69 games this season and 47 points in his last 15 games. Actually saying that just realised it's propably Hershey for him, no NCAA possibility since he signed his ELC already. I don't see much sense in going back to Europe either.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

Definitely interesting to see where he plays next season. He has no business playing in the OHL. There's really nothing for him there after 148 points in 69 games this season and 47 points in his last 15 games. Actually saying that just realised it's propably Hershey for him, no NCAA possibility since he signed his ELC already. I don't see much sense in going back to Europe either.

I agree, he looks ready to move up. Is he eligible for Hershey next season?

 

[trick9]

I agree, he looks ready to move up. Is he eligible for Hershey next season?

He was drafted from the USHL so he can play for Hershey as soon as his season is over.

 

[Langway]

Think you can see a glimpse of power game watching his goal in that game... takes a shot through D's skates, doesn't skate to corner admiring his shot but rather skates past the first D right towards the crease and basically just skates through the 2nd D and bulls his way right through the crease knocking the puck into the net on his way. D had no chance to stop him and even the net went flying, the goalie was lucky he didn't get in the way there.

Glimpses, yes, but it's not a consistent element. It could be a pure man vs. boys situation if he or Greentree brought that consistently Yet both seemingly could put up 5+ points a night regardless. That's how much better they are. There's an honesty to Ilya's game, though. He's playing center while blowing up offensively yet he doesn't cheat for it. He doesn't need to. He makes it look easy and that's mainly why he needs to be in the AHL next season. He needs the challenge physically but also he's consistently a step ahead mentally anticipating best options. Have to love that quality with that frame and skill set...

To me he's got a more translatable pro game than Cristall provided he continues to add explosiveness/pace/stamina. The question is more whether he's got the pace to stick at center but they definitely need to pursue it given his ceiling and sense. With Cristall the decisions aren't always as on point or the most efficient. He's more perimeter, less capable defensively, less generally involved and at times needlessly fancy. But it's the power game and developing his strength that would make IP even more deadly going forward given all he's already got going for him. That's the finishing element down the road IMO that would put him over the top. More immediately pace/strength is the big task but if he continues to add more elements to his game? Sky's the limit.

 

[trick9]

Glimpses, yes, but it's not a consistent element. It could be a pure man vs. boys situation if he or Greentree brought that consistently Yet both seemingly could put up 5+ points a night regardless. That's how much better they are. There's an honesty to Ilya's game, though. He's playing center while blowing up offensively yet he doesn't cheat for it. He doesn't need to. He makes it look easy and that's mainly why he needs to be in the AHL next season. He needs the challenge physically but also he's consistently a step ahead mentally anticipating best options. Have to love that quality with that frame and skill set...

To me he's got a more translatable pro game than Cristall provided he continues to add explosiveness/pace/stamina. The question is more whether he's got the pace to stick at center but they definitely need to pursue it given his ceiling and sense. With Cristall the decisions aren't always as on point or the most efficient. He's more perimeter, less capable defensively, less generally involved and at times needlessly fancy. But it's the power game and developing his strength that would make IP even more deadly going forward given all he's already got going for him. That's the finishing element down the road IMO that would put him over the top. More immediately pace/strength is the big task but if he continues to add more elements to his game? Sky's the limit.

Totally agreed. Sky is the limit for Protas.

We'll see where Cristall is headed once he starts his pro career. Victim of the transfer rule for sure and i'm not sure how much this season gained for him dominating in the Juniors. He looks better skater and i liked what i saw from him early on as a PK'er but beyond that he really only needs to build up on his strength and he should be ready for pro hockey. That's where the road really starts for him when he starts facing competition where he isn't the best player on the ice for 99% of his ice-time.

Hershey is going to be a wagon next season with potentially both of these guys in there to start the season.

 

[Cush]

CSS Final Rankings

https://media.nhl.com/site/vasset/public/attachments/2025/04/18876/2025%20NHL%20CS%20Final%20Rankings%20-%20NA%20Skaters.pdf

https://media.nhl.com/site/vasset/public/attachments/2025/04/18876/2025%20NHL%20CS%20Final%20Rankings%20-%20ITL%20Skaters.pdf

Zharovsky @ #5 for Euro Skaters

 

[Langway]

WHLers Kindel, Reschny and Fiddler low enough to be feasible. Sounds like Fiddler will play for USA at the U18s.

 

[qcal1427]

Glimpses, yes, but it's not a consistent element. It could be a pure man vs. boys situation if he or Greentree brought that consistently Yet both seemingly could put up 5+ points a night regardless. That's how much better they are. There's an honesty to Ilya's game, though. He's playing center while blowing up offensively yet he doesn't cheat for it. He doesn't need to. He makes it look easy and that's mainly why he needs to be in the AHL next season. He needs the challenge physically but also he's consistently a step ahead mentally anticipating best options. Have to love that quality with that frame and skill set...

To me he's got a more translatable pro game than Cristall provided he continues to add explosiveness/pace/stamina. The question is more whether he's got the pace to stick at center but they definitely need to pursue it given his ceiling and sense. With Cristall the decisions aren't always as on point or the most efficient. He's more perimeter, less capable defensively, less generally involved and at times needlessly fancy. But it's the power game and developing his strength that would make IP even more deadly going forward given all he's already got going for him. That's the finishing element down the road IMO that would put him over the top. More immediately pace/strength is the big task but if he continues to add more elements to his game? Sky's the limit.

While a "power game" would be nice I do think it's a bit of just bucketing a guy into "big = must hit a lot." Alexei certainly does not play what I would consider a power game and is doing just fine. It's improving the skating (which has already improved significantly!) that is much more of a concern for me.

 

[wickedwitch]

While a "power game" would be nice I do think it's a bit of just bucketing a guy into "big = must hit a lot." Alexei certainly does not play what I would consider a power game and is doing just fine. It's improving the skating (which has already improved significantly!) that is much more of a concern for me.

I could not agree more. Some players don't hit a lot. Even some big players. But they can still use their size in other ways.

Also, players rarely develop the desire to hit a lot after junior. It's not a skill like skating.

Appreciate Lil Pro for what he is, which is one of the best junior players in the world, and don't worry about what he isn't.

 

[895]

Now obviously their stories are still unfolding but picking Greentree instead of Parascak would've been great.

 

[DWGie26]

I like our “little” agitators like Duhaime, Beauvillier and Mangi. All smaller but hard on the puck.

And our big boys will play big come playoffs. We have a good veteran team to play hard on puck.

 

[Langway]

While a "power game" would be nice I do think it's a bit of just bucketing a guy into "big = must hit a lot." Alexei certainly does not play what I would consider a power game and is doing just fine. It's improving the skating (which has already improved significantly!) that is much more of a concern for me.

Aliaksei doesn't in terms of bullying--when he definitely could--but he does get greasy and at least hold his own. It's less that he needs to hit or bully than play up to his size and more fully use it to his benefit. There are times when he's very mature (for the OHL anyway) about using his frame to protect pucks. But he does seem to get targeted a bit in the OHL playoffs as a bigger skilled guy and has largely shrugged it off rather than waking the bear. He gives a few but some meanness is I think strategically advantageous (esp. when prodded). Particularly when he could put The Fear in some D on the forecheck or in the neutral zone. Skating does limit that but with his anticipation he could incorporate it more into his game if he wanted to. Away from the puck sometimes a simple cross-check to a defender helps free up room, etc.

On a relative level at this stage it is something of a weakness. Perhaps it's nitpicking and not necessarily an essential area to remedy. But it's an observation as to his current player profile. If he were to add that to his game more it wouldn't hurt his ability to stick at center ice. It isn't the biggest task ahead but it is IMO an important element nonetheless in having the firmness to be less easily pushed to the perimeter. Certainly his finesse skill should play in a scoring role either way but with all of his tools it's an intriguing concept if he's just sort of precocious re: physical play currently.

He doesn't naturally have that sort of attitude so we'll see. Very easygoing. We'll see how fierce the series against London ends up being. If he can continue wrecking his way through London then we should probably start talking more about the possibility he skips Hershey altogether and earns the 3C spot in camp next fall (despite the skating issues). He's that good offensively, esp. if he has himself a healthy and diligent off-season adding strength. As close as Cristall was to making the team last year and as productive a season as he's had I'm more bullish on this player (despite those more minor limitations) and just how far he can go.

 

[Lou Sassole]

While a "power game" would be nice I do think it's a bit of just bucketing a guy into "big = must hit a lot." Alexei certainly does not play what I would consider a power game and is doing just fine. It's improving the skating (which has already improved significantly!) that is much more of a concern for me.

Yup, Ovie has encouraged him to hit more and play "more angry". I just don't think Pro is that type of player, Hell, most big guys in the NHL aren't that physical. They're used to holding back most of their lives and trying to be less intimidating.