Capitals Make Three Selections on Second Day of 2019 NHL Draft

The Washington Capitals selected right wing Brett Leason (56th overall), center Aliaksei Protas (91st overall) and defenseman Martin Has (153rd overall) on the second day of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. On Friday, the Capitals selected center Connor McMichael with the 25th overall selection in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft.

Leason, 20, was ranked fifth among right wings and 21st overall among North American forwards by NHL Central Scouting. The 6'4", 210-pound right wing registered 89 points (36g, 53a) in 55 games with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season. Leason led Prince Albert in points and ranked eighth in the WHL in the 2018-19 season. The Calgary, Alta, native recorded 25 points (10g, 15a) in 22 playoff games, ranking second in the WHL in playoff points, en route to Prince Albert's Ed Chynoweth Cup as the WHL champions. Leason was named to the WHL (East) First All-Star Team last season. In 190 career WHL games between Prince Albert and the Tri-City Americans, Leason has recorded 140 points (60g, 80a). Leason represented Team Canada in the 2019 World Junior Championship, recording five points (3g, 2a) in five games. Additionally, Leason received the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence this year, presented annually by the NHL to a prospect who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism.

Protas, 18, was ranked 16th among centers and 30th overall among North American forwards by NHL Central Scouting. Teammates with Leason on Prince Albert, Protas registered 40 points (11g, 29a) in 61 games last season. The 6'5", 205-pound center ranked seventh among WHL rookies in points, and he led all WHL rookies in playoff points with 22 (12g, 10a) in 23 games. The Vitebsk, Belarus, native represented Belarus at the 2018 Under-18 World Championship, recording four points (1g, 3a) in four games, and also earned a silver medal at the 2019 Division 1 - Group A World Junior Championship, recording five points (2g, 3a) in five games. Protas marks the first player the Capitals have ever selected from Belarus. The Capitals acquired the 91st overall selection by trading their 118th and 129th overall selection to New Jersey.

Has, 18, was ranked 17th among defensemen and 38th overall among European players by NHL Central Scouting. The 6'4", 192-pound defenseman recorded 16 points (9g, 7a) in 37 games with Tappara in Finland's Jr. League. During the 2018-19 season, the Prague, Czech Republic, native represented Czech Republic in the 2019 Under-18 World Championship, the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament in Zuchwil and the Under-20 Four Nations Tournament in Hodonin, recording eight points (3g, 5a) in 16 international games. In order to draft Has, the Capitals traded their 7th round pick (211th overall) and their seventh-round pick in 2020 NHL Draft to San Jose for the 153rd overall pick.