Ethan Bear is expected to be activated from the NHLPA Player Assistance Program, according to CapFriendly, although the Washington Capitals have yet to confirm the news. Bear originally went into the program on March 27 of this year, missing the last 18 games of the regular season for the Capitals and an additional four postseason contests.
It has been an interesting year-and-a-half for Bear, who, after having injured his shoulder in last summer’s IIHF World Championships, was non-tendered by the Vancouver Canucks, allowing him to become a free agent. Since the injury took nearly six months to heal, Bear had to wait until late December before ultimately signing with a team.
At the time of his signing, reporting in early December suggested Bear was being monitored by three teams: the Toronto Maple Leafs, Canucks and his eventual landing spot, the Capitals. On Dec. 28, Washington signed Bear to a two-year, $4.125M contract, eventually enticing the defenseman with an extra year on the contract.
Unfortunately for Bear, he was used sporadically by the Capitals, playing in 24 games while managing just under 15 minutes of ice time. Coupled with the lengthy layoff from the shoulder injury, Bear did not look like the same defenseman from only a season ago.
Now that Bear is fully out of the Player Assistance Program, he will have a second opportunity to prove his worth in Washington. However, with notable right-handed shot defensemen already signed for the 2024-25 season, Bear may ask for a change of scenery this offseason.
