Former Canuck Ethan Bear shares heartbreaking news

The defenceman was viewed as a part of the core Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin wanted to build around, a pending restricted free agent, Bear chose to go the Men's World Championship hoping to skate some more, but an injury during the competition shattered his plans.

His injury led him to a six months rehabilitation period keeping him out of the game until Christmas. At which point the Canucks were extremely tight with the salary cap and unable to give Bear the best offer he could get. Bear opted to sign a two-year contract with the Capitals.

The number 74 was limited to 24 games as he was admitted into the NHLPA's Players Assistance Program. Now that he worked his way through it, the defenseman just announced, via his social media, tragic news. His grandmother, who he was close with passed away:

Now entering a contract year, Bear will try and secure his family's future. The Capitals had signed Bear to a two-year contract worth a little over $4M and the 27-year-old will now try and prove that he belongs to play at the NHL level.

As the season winds down, the Canucks could wind up being on the market for a defenceman. Bear, a capable puckmoving blueliner could very well be what Allvin has in mind. Perhaps if things were to go south for the Capitals, they'd be looking to sell players on expiring contracts? Could he be a target for the Canucks? A defensive core looking like that could definitely do some damage:

Hughes-Heineken
Soucy-Bear
Forbort-Myers