Decision has been made on Aliaksei Protas' position with team injuries

Protas, drafted as a center in 2019, has found his NHL stride along the wall. Last season he hit career highs across the board, producing 30 goals and 66 points while anchoring play-driving shifts on the wing. His length and poise have become vital pieces in Washington's possession game.

Carbery said it simply: «It's not fair to him to change his role.» The Capitals coach has leaned into consistency, trusting that Protas' growth on the flank outweighs the temptation to plug him into the middle. It's a vote of confidence as much as a tactical choice.

Fans who watched his evolution can see why. Protas has turned into one of the team's steadiest forecheckers, winning pucks back and feeding Washington's transition. He uses his six-foot-six frame not to bulldoze, but to extend plays and create time for linemates.

That maturity fits perfectly in Carbery's structure. Instead of juggling roles, the staff wants stability while Dubois recovers. A center switch, even temporarily, risks breaking the rhythm Protas built with his wingers.

From a fan's perspective, it feels right. Protas looks more confident than ever, handling the puck with patience and snapping off quick passes that open space. There's no reason to move him unless something forces it.

Sammi Silber reported the update on X (formerly Twitter), quoting Carbery's explanation for keeping Protas where he is.

The Capitals will now lean on Connor McMichael and Nic Dowd to absorb the extra minutes down the middle. Protas, meanwhile, can keep doing what's working-growing into a quietly effective, two-way winger who still has another gear to reach.

If he keeps trending upward, that «wing-only» tag might sound less like a limitation and more like a compliment.