OHL In The System: Washington Capitals
The latest instalment of OHL In The System takes a closer look at the Washington Capitals.
This 32-part series spotlights OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.
Join us for OHL In The System!
Matthew Strome (LW) – Hamilton Bulldogs (2015-19)
Signed (AHL): July 24, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 260 Games Played | 115 Goals | 132 Assists | 247 Points
Age: 25
Originally chosen by the Philadelphia Flyers in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft, Matthew Strome signed a two-year AHL contract extension with the Hershey Bears on July 24, 2024. Strome set AHL career highs in 2023-24 with seven goals, 13 assists, 20 points and a plus-13 rating over 50 regular-season games with the Bears to help them hoist the Calder Cup as AHL champions. The Mississauga, Ont. native followed that up with two goals and three assists in 15 postseason games, scoring the Calder Cup-clinching goal in overtime of Game 6 of the Finals. Entering his sixth pro season, Strome has totaled 16 goals and 32 assists for 48 points in 175 career AHL contests with Hershey and Lehigh Valley. Selected eighth overall by the Hamilton Bulldogs in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, Strome totaled 247 points over 260 regular season games played over four OHL season. He hoisted the J. Ross Robertson Cup as an OHL champion during the 2017-18 season, registering 18 points in 20 playoff contests.
Ilya Protas (LW) – Windsor Spitfires (2024-25)
Signed: July 6, 2024
Age: 18
Selected by the Windsor Spitfires at the 2024 CHL Import Draft, Ilya Protas committed to the club on July 17, 2024 for the 2024-25 OHL season. Protas played for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL in 2023-24, recording 51 points in 61 games (14 goals, 37 assists) before being drafted in the 2024 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals in the third round, 75th overall. The Minsk, Belarus native signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Capitals on July 6, 2024.
Cam Allen (D) – Guelph Storm (2021-24)
Signed: July 6, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 152 Games Played | 20 Goals | 51 Assists | 71 Points
Age: 19
The Washington Capitals signed Guelph Storm defenceman Cam Allen to a three-year entry-level contract on July 6, 2024.The Capitals selected the 19-year-old with the 136th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Allen, who missed the first 43 games of the 2023-24 season, recorded nine points in 25 games played. The 6-foot, 196lb. blueliner registered 25 points in 62 games with Guelph in 2022-23, ranking second on the Storm in penalty minutes (72) and third among the team’s defensemen in points. During the 2021-22 season, the Toronto, Ont. native ranked fourth among OHL rookie defensemen in scoring with 37 points in 65 games. Allen won the Emms Family Award as the OHL’s Top Rookie and was named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team. At the international level, Allen represented Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he tied for the tournament lead in assists and helped Canada to the gold medal. Allen also captained Canada at the 2023 Under-18 World Championship, winning bronze. Allen was selected by the Storm with the third overall pick at the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.
Patrick Thomas (C) – Hamilton/Brantford Bulldogs (2021-24)
Selected: 104th overall, 2023 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 187 Games Played | 44 Goals | 105 Assists | 149 Points
Age: 19
Selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals, Patrick Thomas continues to excel with the Brantford Bulldogs. Concluding his third OHL season with the Bulldogs, the Hamilton, Ont. native tallied 66 points in 57 regular season games, along with seven points in six playoff contests. Crowned an OHL champion with the Bulldogs in 2022, Thomas has registered 149 points over 187 OHL career games, adding 21 points in 31 post-season matchups. The 19-year-old forward was Selected by the Bulldogs in the third round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.
Monday’s edition of In The System, features the New York Islanders organization!
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