"When I first saw Ovechkin in the team, I didn't dare approach"

While the entire hockey world is following Alexander Ovechkin's Great pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's record, there is another, more modest race going on in Washington. The mighty Belarusian forward, 24-year-old Alexei Protas, has scored 28 goals and 58 points today, three goals and one point behind his country's sniper and scorer records set last season by Egor Sharangovich in Calgary.

But for the career of the Vitebsk native himself, a good—natured, well-mannered and very smiling guy off the court, combining almost two meters of height with soft technique on the ice, something else is much more important - the rapid progress that Protas has achieved this season. In the previous three games, he scored 13 goals and 53 points, and in the 65 matches of the current one, he not only scored 28, but also changed the mark of 50 points.

In an interview with Izvestia and SE, Protas spoke about his progress, Ovechkin's car and his native Vitebsk.

"I am sure that the head coach learns a lot from Sasha"

— Your agent Dan Milstein told me that when you signed a five-year contract with the Capitals last January for almost $17 million, he said you asked him an unexpected question: "Isn't it too much for me?"

— It's just that I've never shone with some crazy statistics, and I've never seen such amounts in my life. Dan and I were talking about how much money I see in my head.: I've roughly voiced it. And then he called and said that he had agreed to such a contract, which, to put it mildly, I was shocked by. It all happened very unexpectedly, and since then I have felt a huge responsibility. I try to earn this money in full and show that it's not for nothing that they trust me so much.

— Was the amount you announced to Milstein less than you received in the end?

— Much more. I won't say how much, but much less, haha.

— Dmitry Orlov praised you very much, he said: "Lyosha is a good guy, a hard worker, a professional, I am very happy for him. He's physically matured, even though he's not a kid anyway. There was confidence, which was facilitated by the new contract." Is there really any relationship between a contract and confidence?

— At first, the contract just caused increased responsibility and excitement. I wanted to prove that people believed in me for a reason. And confidence gradually appeared due to the confidence of the coaching staff and playing time. Even after mistakes, they continue to believe in me, talk to me, and help me. Thanks to this, confidence increases!

— By the way, tell us about your relationship with Spencer Carbury. The team is one of the leaders of the NHL. What is his strength? As I understand it, you met him when you were still playing at the farm club?

— Yes, we were together at Hershey when I came for 20 games. He is currently in his second season as Washington's head coach. He really wants to win, to assert himself, and he's great at it. He constantly works with all the players, not only as a team, but also individually, developing us, and I really like it. It's great to have people discussing things with you all the time, telling you that you can and should do better.

— I read in your interview that Carbury advised you to turn your head more behind other people's gates.

— Yes, and this advice helps me to see the playground better. Because the NHL is a very fast league, the best in the world, and decisions here must be made as quickly as possible.

— Do you think Carbury and Ovechkin are helping each other?

— Absolutely. I am sure that the head coach learns a lot from Sasha and tries to help himself in any way possible. I see that they talk a lot, think in the same way and are motivated to win.

"When Washington named my brother in the draft, it was something impossible."

— When did you feel that you got used to the Enhael speeds?

— Yes, in fact, I'm still adapting to them. I'm trying to develop, I know what I can do better, and I understand how much more work lies ahead. After every game, I see that there is something to develop. There is still a lot to reach the ceiling, so we have to work and work.

— Did you expect such a breakthrough from yourself this season? And what do you associate it with?

— First of all, I think he is connected with the team. We have a very good team, we score a lot, we play great. So first of all, it's about the partners. They give me a lot, and they realize my passes. Very skilled guys. But I was still happy with the pre-season. I was even proud of how much work I had done back then. And I hoped that the number of moments would translate into quality. Thank God that everything is working out this way now, and I will do everything to keep it that way.

— Were you preparing for the season in Washington or Vitebsk?

— I always prepare in Vitebsk in the summer, and I come here in September, about a couple of weeks before the start of the training camp. I have a physical training coach who used to work at Dinamo Minsk and now lives in Minsk. I take the program from him and work on it with my brother, and I am in touch with the coach. He sends online videos and prompts.

— You mentioned a younger brother. What were your emotions when he was drafted by Washington last summer? And is it possible to call the main dream of life to play with Ilya together for the Capitals?

— Of course, this is one of the goals along with winning the Stanley Cup. If my brother had made it through and we had played together for Washington, it would certainly have been unforgettable. And the emotions would be the strongest. We were at the draft, and my wife videotaped every Washington pick in the hope that now... When the Capitals traded two picks with New Jersey, like I did, I felt a sense of deja vu. And when he was named, it was something impossible. As well as seeing him next to me in the locker room, on the ice in a Washington uniform. Unbelievable!

"You're both big." Is it hereditary?

— Yes, and our dad is quite big, over six feet, and mom is relatively tall, and grandpa is tall. Therefore, heredity is indisputable here.

— Did Dad play any professional sports?

— No, only at the amateur level. I am very grateful to them and my mother for their upbringing, they immediately supported my passion for hockey and never advised me to go in some other direction. Even if I didn't watch it somewhere, they always made it clear to me that they were there, that they believed and supported me. It's very nice when your family is always on your side.

— Do your parents live most of the time in Vitebsk or with you in Washington?

— I'm in Vitebsk all the time.

— I saw their picture on the podium at one of the Capitals' matches. I think you did a double that day.

— They even saw two of my takes, if I'm not mistaken. We flew in for three weeks, and that day Dad was at my NHL game for the first time at all. And when I scored, and even two, it was very strong emotions, special feelings. I'll never forget them.

"One day I had to go to a farm club, and Ovechkin gave me his car."

— Let's talk about your relationship with the captain. How much did Alexander Ovechkin help you grow as a player, and did he give you advice that became useful on and off the court?

— Yes, absolutely. He is not only a great hockey player, but also a great locker room leader for everyone, not only for Russian speakers. But also for us (with Alexander Alekseev, Ivan Miroshnichenko, when he is in the first team. — Izvestia) it helps a lot. Sasha often encourages us, gives us advice, and can spur us on both during the game and in everyday situations. I'll mention Dima Orlov, whom you mentioned, and Zhenya Kuznetsov here. They really helped us, the young ones, to adapt here, to get used to this hockey.

— Can you give an example of Ovechkin's help in everyday life?

— One day I had to go to Hershey, to the farm club, and he gave me his car. Yes, there were many moments!

— What is your favorite story about him?

— There are a lot of them, because Sasha radiates positive energy. He's charging people! It's enough to take all these fun rituals with the guys before the game, which you probably know from the video. They always cheer you up.

— When you saw him for the first time, were you afraid to approach?

— Yes, I didn't dare and didn't say anything. It wasn't until the third or fourth day of the training camp that I realized I needed to introduce myself somehow. It was a little exciting. And even now, sometimes, haha!

— Both before Ovechkin's injury and some time after it, you are link partners and understand each other, as it seems to me, with half a word. How did you find such chemistry, what do you do for it, do you talk a lot?

— Yes, we analyzed the game after several matches, trying to see what we needed to work on in the top three. He and Stroom have been playing together for a long time, and I needed to get used to it a little bit. I try to just work, give my best in every shift and help them in any way I can. Win the fight, get out of the corners and out of your zone. I understand that I have to give the maximum in each shift.

— Is it possible to learn how to throw from Ovechkin? Or is his click completely exclusive?

"I don't think so. How many years has he been doing this, and no one can handle it. I think he's the only one.

— The history of hockey called "The Great Chase" is happening right before our eyes. What does it mean for the Capitals players, and for you in particular, to be a part of it? Is it important to achieve the goal this season?

— Everyone understands that this has to happen sooner or later. But no one really gets hung up on it, including Sasha himself. You just see the energy with which he goes into every game, and how he strives to win. And when team results are intertwined with individual ones, it only brings the record closer. I'm sure he understands this himself, he only thinks about winning, and it helps him score. Everything is going very smoothly.

— What was the main advice Ovechkin gave you during his time in Washington?

- "Work, and everything will be fine!"

— Do you set a goal for yourself to break the Belarusian NHL season records for goals and points by Yegor Sharangovich this season?

— Globally— no (the conversation took place before the matches with Detroit and Anaheim, in which Protas scored five goals. — Izvestia). I would just like to help the team win. Any individual achievements are good, but first of all you focus on team results. It's nice to win, and I want to do it every game. This is possible only when everyone is united and thinking about the team.

— In general, do you communicate a lot with Belarusians in the NHL, AHL?

— As much as possible, we try to talk before or after the games. Vlad Kolyachonka's wife came to visit us a few days before him — we have a very good relationship with them.

— Alexey Kolosov is having a difficult time at Philadelphia. He signed a contract last year and suddenly left, and now he's the third goalkeeper again. Do you advise him on how to overcome difficult times?

— I try not to give advice if I'm not asked for it. Therefore, if he comes to me, I will certainly help him. But I think it's wrong to interfere and go somewhere without knowing the situation. Lyosha knows what he needs and what's important, and I'm always ready to help him if necessary.

— I had never talked to people from Vitebsk before, and I wanted to know if there was a cult of the great artist Marc Chagall in the city, who grew up there.

— Of course, there is, as well as his museum. We are very proud that a man with that name grew up in our city.

— Have you been to the museum?

— I'm ashamed to admit, but not yet. I really want to close this gap and hope that it will work out this summer.