Welcome back to NHL Rumours. Each day, we look at the latest happening around the NHL. From trade rumours to signings, we cover it all! Today, we look at a Vancouver Canucks defenceman that may get a contract extension this season.
Vancouver Canucks Defenceman Could Get Deal
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Vancouver Canucks may look to extend defenceman Ethan Bear. Bear was traded to the Canucks earlier this season with Lane Pederson and a fifth-round draft pick. Friedman reported this on his podcast, 32 Thoughts.
Friedman on 32TP: “I think one guy that they’re going to extend is Ethan Bear”. #Canucks
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) December 19, 2022
Ethan Bear is a 25-year-old who seemed like a sure thing to make the NHL but has found it hard at times to keep a spot on an NHL roster. Drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Bear impressed in the WHL being close to and over a point-per-game in his final two seasons.
He then had 18 points in 37 games with Bakersfield in the AHL before earning an NHL call-up. However, the offensive game that he had flashed in junior and the AHL just didn’t translate to the NHL as the Oilers had hoped. In 2021, he was moved to the Carolina Hurricanes. In Carolina, Bear had to try and crack a very deep defence core. He slotted into 58 games and had 14 points.
In Vancouver, Bear has had six points in 21 games so far. It looks more and more likely that Bear is destined to be a third-pair player who will play best in sheltered minutes.
What a Deal Looks Like
There is value in being a good third-pair guy and Vancouver needs all the NHL calibre players they can get on their blueline. Another thing that will benefit Vancouver? Bear should be cheap. Still young, Bear doesn’t have too many options at this point. He also hasn’t played well enough to demand a large raise. If the Canucks are looking to extend him, a one or two-year deal at around $1.5 million seems likely.
This would allow Bear a season or two more to show why he deserves more minutes and eventually a higher pay raise. It also gives Vancouver an NHL body for relatively cheap, something they badly need. The fit seems obvious enough for the Vancouver Canucks defenceman, now we wait to see if a deal happens.
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