The Capitals opened up a roster spot by sending Lucas Johansen to Hershey.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — Lucas Johansen has officially cleared waivers, paving the way for a new signing on the blue line for the Washington Capitals.
Johansen, who made the opening night roster out of training camp, will return to the AHL's Hershey Bears. He got just six games with Washington and spent the majority of the time as a healthy scratch with Alex Alexeyev.
With Joel Edmundson making his return on Nov. 18, he had not been available, and with Ethan Bear seemingly ready to join the mix, the team needed to open a roster spot, and Johansen was the odd man out.
Bear, a right-handed defenseman, is expected to sign a two-year, $2 million contract. He arrived in D.C. and was at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Tuesday to take in practice and get used to his new home. He had been in Kelowna rehabbing prior to coming to town.
The 26-year-old blueliner is still recovering from shoulder surgery after being hurt, representing Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships in May. He had three goals and 13 assists in 61 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season.
Bear is expected to bring more stability to the right side and is known for his defensive play and his ability to log heavy minutes and kill penalties, though he can also join the rush and contribute offensively, which is something the team is looking for.
The 5-foot-11, 197-pound defender is expected to compete for a spot with the likes of Nick Jensen, Trevor van Riemsdyk and potentially left-hand shot Joel Edmundson. If this happens, van Riemsdyk would likely switch to his off side.