Red Wings eye two brothers as Dylan Larkin trade talks heat up
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The Red Wings reportedly have interest in Aliaksei and Ilya Protas of the Capitals, per David Pagnotta, though Washington may not be ready to move them.
The Detroit Red Wings are eyeing Washington's depth, and the Protas brothers are reportedly on their radar.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported on Oct. 29 that one well-placed source says Detroit has interest in Aliaksei and Ilya Protas.
It's unclear whether the Capitals have any appetite to move either of them.
"According to one well-placed source, the Red Wings have interest in the Protas brothers, Alexei and Ilya, out of Washington, though it's unclear if the Capitals have an appetite to move...them."
- David Pagnotta
- David Pagnotta
That uncertainty makes sense. Ilya is 20 years old and was a third-round pick in 2024, going 75th overall.
Aliaksei is 25 and signed a five-year extension in January 2024 worth $16.875 million, which carries a $3.375 million cap hit.
Both are part of Washington's roster this season, so this isn't Detroit asking about prospects buried in the minors.
Why Larkin makes this interesting
Washington also shows up on Dylan Larkin's 10-team trade list.
The Red Wings center asked out of Detroit in June and has since lost the captaincy.
He started with just three teams on his list before widening it to 10 on Oct. 20, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.
Larkin put up 67 points last season (34 goals, 33 assists) and carries a cap hit of $8.7 million through 2030-31.
Detroit has also missed the playoffs 10 straight years.
Is there a link between the two?
Nothing in the report ties the Protas interest directly to a Larkin deal, so treat that as speculation for now.
Still, Washington has all of its own draft picks and Dylan Strome, who has been floated as a possible piece in a package.
If Detroit wants a hockey trade rather than a straight picks swap, a young forward like Ilya could be the kind of name that comes up.
Pagnotta's source didn't say Washington is shopping either brother, and that's the key detail.
Stay tuned.
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