WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals announced on Thursday that the team has signed defenseman Ethan Bear to a two-year contract, paying him $4.125 million.
The announcement came from President and General Manager Brian MacLellan.
The 26-year-old defenseman has recorded 63 points (16g, 47a) in 251 career games with the Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, and Edmonton Oilers.
Bear spent the last season with Vancouver, where he registered 16 points (3g, 13a) in 61 games. Among Canucks defensemen with at least 20 games played, Bear ranked third in plus/minus (+6), blocked shots (82) and shorthanded ice time per game (1:47). In addition, Bear’s 0.26 points-per-game in 2022-23 marked the second-highest rate of his career (2019-20: 0.30 P/GP).
The 5’11, 197-pound defenseman appeared in 58 games with Carolina during the 2021-22 season, recording 14 points (5g, 9a). He matched his single-season career high in goals with five, two of which were game-winners.
Bear was originally drafted by Edmonton in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft and recorded a career-high 21 points during the shortened 2019-2020 season. He appeared in 132 games with Edmonton over three seasons, as well as eight Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Bear also represented Canada at the 2015 Under-18 World Championship, winning a bronze medal.
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