Brett Leason goes through his first media scrum as a Washington Capitals draft pick Saturday at the NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver. Taylor Rocca/WHL

By Jeff D'Andrea

Reason and Viper off to Washington

Capitals must be Raider fans; draft Leason in 2nd and Protas in 3rd

Jun 22, 2019 | 2:06 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders had a number of breakout performances as they went on to win their first WHL title in the past 34 years, and the Washington Capitals noticed.

At the second day of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver on Saturday, the Capitals went all in with the Raiders for their first two picks. They selected Brett ‘the Reason’ Leason in the second round, 56^th overall. Then in the third round, the Capitals traded up in the draft to acquire the 91^st overall pick to selected Aliaksei Protas, the Viper of Vitebsk, Belarus.

This is the first time since the 2001 season that one NHL team has selected more than one Raider in the same draft. In 2001, the Florida Panthers drafted three Raiders, Greg Watson in the second round, Grant McNeill in the third and Kyle Bruce in the eighth.

The Reason

Leason was passed over in the previous two drafts, but that wait was over once the Capitals drafted him 56^th overall.

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“It feels great,” Leason said during a media scrum at the draft. “It’s one of those days that you want to get drafted, you keep waiting and waiting. To get picked by the Capitals, it means a lot.”

Leason burst onto the scene with a breakout season, scoring 28 goals and 64 points in the first 30 games of the season. He ended the regular season with 36 goals and 89 points in 55 games with season with the Raiders, after managing 33 points in 66 games last year. Leason also managed 10 goals and 25 points in 22 games in the playoffs on the way to the Raiders’ first WHL title in 34 years.

Before the second round of the NHL Entry Draft, Brett Leason won the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence.

The award is presented to a player that shows strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism in their pursuit of excellence.

“That was a very special moment, it’s a very prestigious award,” Leason said. “To be even be considered it, and to get it, it was an amazing honour. I’ll remember that.”

The award is handed out each year in the memory of former NHL Central Scouting director E.J. McGuire. The Humboldt Broncos received the award last season.

The Viper

Like Leason, Protas had a breakout year this year. As a 17-year-old rookie coming over from Belarus, Protas scored 11 goals and 40 points in 61 games and represented Belarus at the Under-20 Div. 1 World Junior Championships. But Protas saved his best hockey for the playoffs, scoring 12 goals and 22 points in 23 games.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling, my legs are still shaking,” Protas said at a draft scrum. “I’m so happy to be here.”

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW