Washington Capitals Will Officially Sign Defenceman Once Roster Freeze Ends

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Hunter Bowman
December 27, 2023 (10:03)

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The National Hockey League's roster freeze is wrapping up, set to conclude at 12:01 a.m. ET on December 28th, and as the freeze thaws, there's buzz about potential transactions. While many might be minor, like call-ups or AHL assignments, one significant move is on the horizon for the Washington Capitals.

After weeks of speculation, it seems official � the Capitals are poised to sign defenseman Ethan Bear once the freeze lifts, as reported by PuckPedia.

PuckPedia indicates that the Capitals will ink Bear to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $2.0625 million, likely to be finalized in the coming days.

"Expecting that Ethan Bear's #ALLCAPS    contract will be finalized & registered in the next day or two, and that it will be a 2-year deal with a cap hit of $2.0625M."

Bear, at 26, spent the 2022-23 season with the Vancouver Canucks, contributing in 61 games with 16 points (three goals, 13 assists), 25 penalty minutes, and a plus-six rating.

Post Vancouver's season, Bear joined Canada's roster for the 2023 IIHF World Hockey Championship. Unfortunately, he faced a setback in the quarter-finals, suffering a shoulder injury requiring surgery. With uncertainties around his return, the Canucks opted not to issue a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.

Source: Bladeofsteel