Ethan Bear finalizing contract with new team

According to Puck Pedia, Bear will be signing a two-year contract for just over $2M. After not receiving a qualifying offer from the Canucks while he underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason, Bear became a free agent, but teams were only expected to sign him when he was healthy enough to return to games.

Until only recently, Bear was expected to be returning to the Vancouver Canucks when he healed up from offseason surgery. Unfortunately for them, Bear found a larger contract offer from the Capitals and accepted it, which left Canucks' President Jim Rutherford visibly annoyed in a recent press conference.

Originally drafted in the fifth round by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2015 draft, Bear has gone on to make a solid career for himself as a sought-after depth defenceman. In 251 games between the Oilers, Hurricanes, and Canucks, Bear has recorded just 16 goals and 63 points, but profiles well analytically as well.

Bear became a bit of a fan favourite in his time with the Oilers, before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Warren Foegele. Oilers fans will still wish Bear success and keep track of his career now continuing in Washington.