Capitals sign D Ethan Bear

The Washington Capitals signed free agent defenseman Ethan Bear to a two-year contract on Thursday.

The deal carries an average annual value of $2.0625 million, but he will make $1.375 million in the first year with $2.75 million backloaded for Year 2, according to the salary cap website PuckPedia.

Bear has been practicing with the Capitals for more than a week, and the team had been clear that it intended to sign him.

Bear, 26, has not played this season. He underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason and picked up an injury while playing for Team Canada at the world championships in May.

Bear played in 61 games for the Vancouver Canucks last season and tallied three goals, 13 assists and 25 penalty minutes. In 251 career games with the Edmonton Oilers (2017-18, 2019-21), Carolina Hurricanes (2021-22) and Vancouver, Bear has recorded 63 points (16 goals, 47 assists).

"They have great leadership here," Bear told reporters in Washington before the league's holiday break. "Honestly, when it was coming to honestly contracts and working things out, I think they were just very cooperative. They weren't trying to rush me into anything. They're understanding, and honestly, I felt like they really cared a lot and they want me here instead of needing me."