Capitals’ Ethan Bear to Receive Care from NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program

NHL defenseman Ethan Bear will be receiving support through the NHL and NHL Players’ Association’s Player Assistance Program. During this period of care, Bear will be absent from the Washington Capitals indefinitely, returning only once program administrators deem him fit for on-ice competition.

As customary with the program, no further details regarding the decision are disclosed unless the individual opts to share them. Bear, a 26-year-old hailing from Ochapowace Nation in Saskatchewan, last participated in a game for the Capitals on March 13 and has been listed as inactive since. In the current season, spanning 24 games, he has contributed one goal, three assists, 31 blocked shots, and averaged 14:54 of ice time per game.

Bear joined the Capitals on a two-year contract valued at just over $2 million annually in late December, having recovered from shoulder surgery in June. Prior to his tenure with the Capitals, Bear had stints with the Vancouver Canucks for one season, the Carolina Hurricanes for a year, and the Edmonton Oilers for three seasons over four years, having been drafted by the Oilers in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL draft.

Throughout his 275-game NHL career, Bear has accumulated 17 goals and 50 assists, totaling 67 points. Additionally, he boasts eight games of playoff experience with the Oilers during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. Following the announcement, the Capitals promptly recalled right-handed defenseman Vincent Iorio from the AHL’s Hershey Bears, as reported by The Hockey News’ Sammi Silber.

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