‘He always wants to win. It’s never enough for him.’

HERSHEY, PA — After leading the Toronto Maple Leafs’ power play to consecutive top two finishes in power-play percentage, Spencer Carbery emerged as the the top young coaching prospect available on the NHL market this summer, garnering interviews from the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, and New York Rangers.

Upon his hiring by the Capitals on May 30, Carbery became the first head coach in team history to lead all three levels of the same organization. Carbery served as head coach of the ECHL South Carolina Stingrays from 2011 through 2016 and was the bench boss of the AHL’s Hershey Bears for three seasons from 2018 through 2021.

With all those years in the Capitals organization, Carbery has coached around a dozen players who still remain in the system, including Connor McMichael, Martin Fehervary, Alex Alexeyev, and Joe Snively.

During his initial press conference with Capitals media, Carbery spoke about wanting to bring good communication to the organization. He also wanted to instill broader ides of “pace” and “connectivity” to the team.

But without being in the room or on the bench as a player, understanding Carbery’s value or top prospect status as a coach is more difficult to understand. So I asked two previously Carbery-coached players, Aliaksei Protas and Beck Malenstyn, to explain what it was like playing under him. There are qualities that Spencer has that become immediately clear when reading their answers.

Aliaksei Protas

Protas, a Capitals’ third-round pick in the 2019 Draft, briefly played under Carbery during the 2020-21 season – his first as a professional. Protas, 22, spent the first part of the pandemic year with the KHL’s Dinamo Minsk on loan before being assigned to Hershey at the end of the season. Protas played 16 games for the Bears, posting two goals, five points, and seven points. Carbery left at the end of the season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Protas will likely spend all next season with the Capitals.

What did you think of Spencer Carbery getting hired by the Capitals and what was it like playing under him a few years ago as a rookie in Hershey?

Aliaksei Protas: “I think he deserved the chance with his like work in Toronto and even in Hershey. I think he deserved that chance. I’m so happy for him. The work ethic he has he can be really successful coach I believe. I am actually so happy for him so I think that’s a great choice for the Caps.”

Can you explain the strengths that he brings to a team as a coach? I know he did power play in Toronto, was that something you experienced when you were here? Was he creative offensively?

Aliaksei Protas: “I think when I was here, Scotty Allen was the power play coach. Probably, his energy just on the bench. Everywhere he just really competitive, he always wants to win. It’s never enough for him. I remember when I played here, I played only like 16 games, but you see when we lose it’s like big thing for him. When we…