The Capitals were at the 23-man limit and needed to open a spot.
The Washington Capitals have made a tough decision on the blue line, placing defenseman Lucas Johansen on waivers as the team appears to be closing in on signing Ethan Bear.
Johansen is one of three on waivers, and with Washington at the 23-man limit, his move down to Hershey will make room for another addition.
That appears likely to be Bear, who is reportedly closing in on a two-year deal in the $2 million neighborhood with the Capitals.
Johansen, who cracked the opening night roster after seven years of trying with the organization, has only appeared in six games for D.C. this season, picking up one assist. Other than that, he has mainly been a healthy scratch and extra, along with Alex Alexeyev, due to Joel Edmundson's return in mid-November.
The Bear signing gives Washington another right-handed option and more stability, as well as a young name to build around.
Bear is a talented defenseman known for his mobility and shutdown style of play, and he can log heavy minutes, kill penalties and block shots while making smart reads. With the Capitals looking to the future and getting younger, signing a name like Bear and seeing where things go is a smart move, especially on a low-risk, two-year contract.
The 26-year-old had 16 points in 61 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season and has worked his way onto the radar after being a fifth-round pick for the Edmonton Oilers in 2015. Bear is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
Washington also loaned Joe Snively back to Hershey, indicating positive news on the injury front.