The Capitals may have to make some changes to the blue line to accommodate for the addition of Ethan Bear.
Details are still being ironed out, but it looks like Ethan Bear will be joining the Washington Capitals on a two-year deal. And with that signing comes some tough decisions on the blue line.
Bear's new deal is in the $2 million neighborhood, and though there's cap flexibility to sign the 26-year-old with Nicklas Backstrom on long-term injured reserve, there's the matter of roster space.
Washington is at the 23-man limit. As a result, there will be a "domino effect," as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman pointed out, since the team will have to make a cut to accommodate Bear's addition.
There are currently two extra defensemen in Lucas Johansen and Alex Alexeyev, and the team is also facing a forward cut with Max Pacioretty drawing back in in the next 2-3 weeks.
Beyond that, Bear will be fighting for playing time, and with all six regulars currently in the Capitals lineup, there will have to be one player that draws out or at least competes with Bear for that time. John Carlson, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Nick Jensen are currently rounding out the right side, and Joel Edmundson is the newest face that has slotted in on the left bottom pairing.
Since van Riemsdyk can also play the right side, it would be expected that Bear could compete with Edmundson or Jensen for that spot in the lineup. Whether or not the team would consider a trade so that one of its regulars isn't an extra remains to be seen.
In the end, there's time to work with. Bear is still recovering from shoulder surgery, and the deal has yet to be announced. Still, the deal is one that will give Washington another potentially strong option for the future defensive corps.