Ethan Bear - NHL News & Rumors

Re-ups with club Bear agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with the Islanders on Monday.

Impact Bear has spent the last two seasons playing exclusively in the AHL, having last appeared in an NHL game back in 2023-24 when he was with Washington. With Bridgeport this year, the 28-year-old blueliner notched four goals and 23 assists in 40 regular-season contests. If he can earn a call-up from the Isles this upcoming season, Bear should be capable of offering decent upside, considering he has 67 points in 275 career regular-season games.

JUNE 15 • ROTOWIRE

Earns three points Sunday Bear scored a goal and added two assists in AHL Bridgeport's 6-3 win over Hershey on Sunday.

Impact Bear hadn't scored a goal since Jan. 31. The defenseman had seven assists over 19 outings in that span. For the season, he's put together a middling campaign with 19 points across 29 appearances with Bridgeport after losing the first half of the season to an undisclosed injury.

MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE

Compiles three helpers in AHL win Bear logged three assists in AHL Bridgeport's 6-2 win over Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Impact Bear is rolling for Bridgeport with a goal and five assists over his first five games of the season. He cleared waivers Dec. 29 after beginning the season with an undisclosed injury that cost him three months of playing time. The 28-year-old defenseman will be given plenty of time to get up to speed, and if he plays well, he could be a call-up option for the Islanders.

JANUARY 19 • ROTOWIRE

Hits waivers Bear (undisclosed) has been placed on waivers by the Islanders, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports Sunday.

Impact Bear began the year on season-opening injured reserve and must clear waivers in order to play for the Islanders. The 28-year-old has already had NHL stops with four different organizations, most recently with the Capitals last season. He had four points (one goal, three assists) in 24 games.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Moves to IR Bear (undisclosed) was put on injured reserve Monday.

Impact While Bear doesn't have an exact timeline for his return to the lineup, he is expected to be out for the first few weeks of the regular season. The 28-year-old defender had 10 goals and 46 points in 62 regular-season outings with AHL Hershey last campaign. Once healthy, he could be a depth option for the Islanders or end up with AHL Bridgeport.

OCTOBER 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Moves to IR Bear (undisclosed) was put on injured reserve Monday.

OCTOBER 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Likely out for weeks Bear is expected to be out for at least a few weeks due to his undisclosed injury, per PuckPedia on Saturday.

Impact Bear would have probably been sent to the minors to start the season, but because injured players are ineligible for reassignment, the 28-year-old might be placed on the Islanders' non-roster injured list instead. He had 10 goals and 46 points across 62 regular-season appearances with AHL Hershey last year.

OCTOBER 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Unavailable against Flyers Bear (undisclosed) will not be in the lineup versus Philadelphia on Thursday.

Impact At this point, Bear has missed enough preseason games and training camp sessions that he may have to start the 2025-26 campaign in the minors. After some decent campaigns with the Oilers, Hurricanes and Canucks, the 28-year-old defenseman saw himself relegated to the minors for all of 2024-25. With AHL Hershey last year, Bear was solidly productive with 10 goals and 36 helpers in 62 regular-season tilts. With youngsters Matthew Schaefer and Isaiah George pushing for NHL opportunities, Bear likely has fallen too far behind at this point to be a full-time option for the Isles.

OCTOBER 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Exits early Friday Bear sustained an undisclosed injury in Friday's game versus the Devils, and there was no update on his status after the contest, Ethan Sears of the New York Post reports.

Impact Bear is competing for a depth role on the Islanders' blue line, but this injury could hinder his chances of making the roster. The 28-year-old should be considered day-to-day until more information is available.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Lands two-way deal Bear signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Islanders on Tuesday, per PuckPedia.

Impact Bear registered 10 goals and 46 points in 62 regular-season outings for AHL Hershey in 2024-25. The 28-year-old blueliner will compete for a depth role with the Islanders at training camp.

JULY 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Headed for minors Bear was reassigned to AHL Hershey on Friday.

Impact Bear will link up with the rest of the Bears to face AHL Charlotte on Friday, as the minor-league club competes in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The 27-year-old blueliner appeared in just 24 games for the Capitals this season, registering one goal on 24 shots, three assists and 16 hits while averaging just 14:54 of ice time. Given his minimal usage at the NHL level, it wouldn't be surprising if Washington lets him walk in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

MAY 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from AHL Bear was called up from AHL Hershey on Saturday.

Impact Bear spent the 2024-25 season with AHL Hershey, tallying 10 goals and adding 36 assists in 62 games. The Capitals will likely use Bear in practice as they currently have eight healthy blueliners on the roster.

APRIL 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

On waiver wire Friday Bear was put on waivers by the Capitals on Friday, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

Impact Bear played 24 regular-season games with the Capitals in 2023-24, before he entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on March 27. He was cleared from the Program on April 30 and spent the offseason getting ready for the 2024-25 campaign. Bear will likely be sent to AHL Hershey once he passes through waivers. He had a goal and three helpers last season.

OCTOBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Participation in the NHL's player assistance program is up this season. That may not be a bad thing

Five NHL players left their teams this season to receive care from an off-ice assistance program run by the league and union

MAY 15, 2024 • Associated Press

Leaves Player Assistance Program Bear (personal) has been cleared by the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports Tuesday.

Impact Bear logged 24 games for Washington this season in which he registered one goal and three assists while averaging a career-low 14:54 of ice time. With one year remaining on his contract, Bear should be back with Washington next season, though he may be hard-pressed to force his way into the lineup on a nightly basis.

APRIL 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Capitals' Ethan Bear enters the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program

Washington Capitals defenseman Ethan Bear has entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program

MARCH 27, 2024 • Associated Press

Capitals' Ethan Bear to Receive Care from NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program Ethan Bear will be away from the Washington Capitals while he receives care from the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

MARCH 27, 2024 • KANSASCITY.COM

Bear to receive care from NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program | NHL.com Defenseman will return to Capitals when cleared for on-ice competition

MARCH 27, 2024 • NHL.COM

Enters Player Assistance Program Bear entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Wednesday, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.

Impact Bear will be away from the Capitals indefinitely while receiving care in the program. He has four points over 24 contests with the Capitals this season.

MARCH 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Where'd the puck go? 👖🤣

JANUARY 21, 2024 • YOUTUBE

First goal of season a game-winner Bear scored the game-winning goal in Tuesday's 2-0 victory over the Ducks.

Impact Playing in his ninth game as a Capital, Bear got free in the faceoff circle to the right of John Gibson and pounced on a rebound late in the first period. It was the 26-year-old blueliner's first goal in almost exactly a calendar year, as his last came with the Canucks on Jan. 15, 2023 in Carolina. Bear has seen a consistent shift since joining the Washington roster in late December, but he could be the player bumped when Rasmus Sandin (upper body) gets healthy.

JANUARY 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Ethan Bear scores his 1st goal in a year as the Capitals shut out the Ducks 2-0 Ethan Bear scored his first NHL goal in almost exactly a year as the Washington Capitals blanked the Anaheim Ducks 2-0

JANUARY 17, 2024 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Ethan Bear scores his 1st goal in a year as the Capitals shut out the Ducks 2-0

Ethan Bear scored his first NHL goal in almost exactly a year as the Washington Capitals blanked the Anaheim Ducks 2-0

JANUARY 17, 2024 • Associated Press

Capitals' Ethan Bear Scores First Goal Of The Season

JANUARY 17, 2024 • YOUTUBE

Capitals' Ethan Bear 'felt all of it' in his return to the NHL Washington defenseman hadn’t played a hockey game at all since suffering a shoulder injury at the IIHF World Championships in May.

JANUARY 2, 2024 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

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Participation in the NHL's player assistance program is up this season. That may not be a bad thing

Capitals' Ethan Bear enters the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program

Ethan Bear scores his 1st goal in a year as the Capitals shut out the Ducks 2-0