The Capitals are reportedly getting closer to winning the Ethan Bear sweepstakes.
The Ethan Bear sweepstakes continue to heat up, and it looks like the Washington Capitals have gone from a serious bidder to a favorite to sign the free-agent defenseman.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on 32 Thoughts on Monday that it appears that Washington will be Bear's next landing spot, according to what he's heard from other teams, as he gets close to making his final decision.
"I think it sounds like it's gonna be Washington. It sounds like the Capitals are the team here. No 100 percent confirmation but there were a few teams that were in on Bear that pointed me in that direction," Friedman said. "Said they think Washington has been aggressive."
Friedman added that it's because Washington has added an element to its offer that is difficult for Bear, who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery after being injured at Worlds, to refuse.
"A bunch of teams were hoping to get Bear in for whatever they could, and then would sign him toa another contract... Washington, it sounds like, us prepared to offer a little bit of term," Friedman said, adding later, "I think what other teams believe the Capitals have done here is they have the ability to say or they're prepared to maybe put some term on this so there's an advantage to Bear taking their offer now, as opposed to teams who will say, 'Hey we'll sign you now and then we'll do something in the summer.'
"I can understand Ethan Bear wanting a bit more security after what he's been through. We'll find out if all of this turns out to be true, but that's what other teams suspect."
Bear is currently recovering in Kelowna and speaking with multiple teams. A fifth-rounder in the 2015 NHL Draft, Bear had risen to prominence on the Edmonton Oilers blueline before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes and ultimately ending up with the Vancouver Canucks last season.
The 26-year-old is known for his defensive game, though he has shown he can join the rush and contribute offensively at times. Bear can log heavy minutes, block shots and kill plays, and he also takes good care of the puck. In 61 games last season with Vancouver, he was among the team's leading defensemen in advanced analytics and boasted three goals and 13 assists, as well as a plus/minus of plus-6.
When it comes to where the 5-11, 197-pound blueliner would fit in, it would likely be on the right side. While John Carlson, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Nick Jensen are the current RHD regulars, Bear would add depth and has shown he is an NHL-caliber defenseman. It is a good option for D.C., especially with the next RHD depth option, Vincent Iorio, still one to two years away from a full-time NHL jump.
This year, Bear can certainly do what he can to compete for a spot, too. The team's extras in Alex Alexeyev and Lucas Johansen are both left-handed, and neither has been able to take full ownership of a full-time NHL lineup spot just yet. Jensen has also had his share of struggles to open the season.
Not to mention, signing him will be critical to future depth, as he would join LHD Rasmus Sandin and Martin Fehervary as a potential member of the team's next-wave core of defensemen in the coming years.