Washington Capitals defenseman Ethan Bear is stepping away from the team to receive care from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance program.
Per an NHL press release:
Capitals’ Bear to Receive Care from NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program
NEW YORK/TORONTO (March 27, 2024) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association and National Hockey League announced today that defenseman Ethan Bear of the Washington Capitals will be unavailable to his Club for an indefinite period while he receives care from the Player Assistance Program of the NHLPA and NHL.
Under the terms of the joint program, he will return to the Club when cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators.
Bear became the second Washington Capital to enter the player assistance program this season after Evgeny Kuznetsov did so in February.
The Capitals signed Bear on December 28 to a two-year contract after the rearguard rehabbed from offseason shoulder surgery.
Bear has four points (1g, 3a) in 24 games this season with the Capitals. He has not played in seven of the Capitals’ last 10 games, which included being out for a stint due to illness.
From all of us at RMNB, we’re wishing Ethan and his family well during this difficult time.
