Oilers Could Only Return If Ethan Bear Completes One Trade First.
To add a younger, quicker defender to their lineup, the Edmonton Oilers may make a defense-related deal.
The Edmonton Oilers are vying for a postseason spot. In addition to being two games into a six-game homestand to start December, they are currently enjoying a six-game winning streak.
The Oilers ought to be striving for quicker and better improvement. A defender who would be a wonderful addition to the Oilers’ already strong defense is currently available.
After suffering a shoulder injury that kept him from starting the season on schedule, Ethan Bear is getting closer to making his NHL comeback. His recovery is going well, and he is getting more focused in his team-hunting.
Elliotte Friedman on Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada Headlines stated, “It looks as if Ethan Bear is getting close to resuming his NHL career or at least picking a team that he’s going to do it with…there’s a number of clubs that suspect that the Washington Capitals have made a strong bid here — nothing official at this time but it is believed the Capitals have made a legitimate run at him.”
I’m not sure what “a legitimate run” really entails, but the Oilers should surely speak with Bear’s management if he is considering a comeback.
In a transaction that brought forward Warren Foegele to the team, he left. He was having a bad year at the time of the deal, one that was ruined by an injury and COVID-19.
Bear has not been far from being a reliable presence on the Oilers blueline. He appeared in 71 games with the Oilers during the 2019–20 season, which was curtailed due to Covid. He spent an average of 21:58 minutes on the ice and 1:52 minutes on the penalty kill per game.
