It is reported that the Capitals are closing in on winning the Ethan Bear sweepstakes. Report: Capitals The Favorites To Sign Ethan Bear As Offer Reachs New Point, Where He Would Fit In.
As Bear approaches his decision, it seems that Washington will be his next stop, based on what he’s heard from other teams, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman stated on 32 Thoughts on Monday.
It sounds like Washington will host, in my opinion. The Capitals seem to be the team in this situation. There’s no absolute confirmation, but a few teams with inside information on Bear led me in that direction,” Friedman stated. “Said they think Washington has been aggressive.”
Friedman continued, “It’s because Washington has included something in its offer that Bear finds hard to turn down.” Bear is recovering from shoulder surgery that was done during the off-season after getting hurt at the Worlds.“A number of teams wanted to sign Bear to a new contract after trying to sign him for whatever sum they could. Washington, it seems like, is ready to offer a small amount of term,” Friedman stated later. “I think other teams think the Caps have done here is that they can say, or they’re willing to perhaps put, some term on this, so Bear has an advantage over teams that will say, ‘Hey, we’ll sign you now, and then we’ll do something in the summer,'” Friedman continued.
“Given what he’s been through, I can understand Ethan Bear wanting a little more security. If everything turns out to be true, we’ll find out, but other teams have this suspicion.”
While in Kelowna for his recuperation, Bear is in communication with several teams. Bear, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft, gained notoriety while playing defense for the Edmonton Oilers. He later played for the Vancouver Canucks, the Carolina Hurricanes, and other teams.
The 26-year-old is renowned for his defensive abilities, but he has occasionally demonstrated the ability to join the rush and contribute offensively. Bear is a capable player who can play a lot of minutes, stop shots, end plays, and handle the puck well. He was one of Vancouver’s top defensemen in 61 games last season, according to advanced analytics, with three goals, thirteen assists, and a plus/minus of plus-6.
The 5-11, 197-pound blueliner would probably fit best on the right side of the group. The current RHD regulars are John Carlson, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Nick Jensen, but Bear would provide depth and has demonstrated that he is a defenseman of NHL caliber. Given that Vincent Iorio, the next RHD depth option, is still one to two years away from making the full-time jump to the NHL, it is a good option for D.C.
Bear can definitely try his hardest to compete for a spot this year. Left-handed players Alex Alexeyev and Lucas Johansen are the team’s extras, but neither has yet been able to establish himself as a mainstay in the NHL lineup. Jensen has experienced his fair share of hardships.
Not to mention, he would join LHD Rasmus Sandin and Martin Fehervary as a possible member of the team’s next-wave core of defensemen in the upcoming years, so signing him will be essential to future depth.