As many expected, the Washington Capitals signed defenseman Ethan Bear on Thursday, giving him a two-year, $4.125 million contract.
After undergoing right shoulder surgery following last season, the 26-year-old hockey player became an unrestricted free agent. He will try to help Alexander Ovechkin's team, which suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat to the New York Rangers on Wednesday. The Caps are in fifth place in the Metropolitan Section of the National League.
Bear collected 3 goals and 13 assists for 16 points in 61 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season. He blocked 82 shots and maintained a +6 margin within a club excluded from the playoffs.
The former Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes played 251 games in their regular season.