2022-23 Season Preview: Vancouver Canucks Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTkyNDkxNjUzNjgyOTYzNzgy/usatsi_17018786.jpg] Traded to Carolina by the Edmonton Oilers last summer, Ethan Bear's first season with the Hurricanes was hampered by a bout with COVID-19 [https://apnews.com/article/nhl-covid-sports-health-canada-f37a54687847dcff071fe7ded477181e]. As the 25-year-old blueliner looks to bounce back this season, speculation suggests he could soon be changing teams again. On Sept. 18, Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre tweeted [https://twitter.com/imacSportsnet/status/1571639182057177090] the Vancouver Canucks could have Bear on their radar. The next day, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun included [https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators/garrioch-some-storylines-to-watch-as-the-much-improved-senators-open-camp] the Hurricanes rearguard among the Ottawa Senators' potential trade targets. Both clubs could use a defenseman with good puck transition skills on the right side of their respective bluelines. The Canucks have 32-year-olds Tyler Myers and Luke Schenn projected as their top-four right-side defensemen. In a recent interview with MacIntyre [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/qa-canucks-gm-patrik-allvin-on-miller-horvats-contract-the-blue-line-and-more/], general manager Patrik Allvin didn't rule out improving his blueline corps. Meanwhile, the Senators have [https://www.capfriendly.com/depth-charts/senators] Travis Hamonic, Artem Zub and Nikita Zaitsev as their potential right-side rearguards. Despite finishing with 14 points in 58 games last season, Bear and the Hurricanes avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.2-million contract. There's been no indication he's available but that could change if he has difficulty holding down a roster spot on their deep defense corps during training camp and preseason play. Cap Friendly indicates [https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/senators] the Senators carry $5.69 million of projected cap space so they could easily afford Bear's contract. It would be more complicated for the Canucks. They are $2.75 million above the cap [https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/canucks]but have cap relief with Micheal Ferland and his $3.5-million cap hit on long-term injury reserve.
