Aliaksei Protas on Ilya Protas becoming taller brother: ‘Hopefully he’s not catching Victor Wembanyama’

Washington Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas noted that his younger brother Ilya Protas appears to have surpassed him in height over the summer. Ilya, a 20-year-old center who debuted in the NHL in April, was previously listed at 6-foot-6. Aliaksei joked about the growth spurt, remarking that he hoped his younger sibling would not end up catching 7-foot-4 NBA player Victor Wembanyama.

During the offseason, Ilya focused on gaining weight by working with the Capitals' nutritionist and his mother on meal planning. In training camp, head coach Spencer Carbery placed the Protas brothers on a forward line alongside offseason acquisition Jordan Kyrou ahead of an exhibition appearance in Hershey.