Elliotte Friedman noted in his latest 32 Thoughts column that defenseman Ethan Bear actually requested a trade out of the Carolina Hurricanes organization this offseason. The team has already been rumored to be looking to move the blueliner if a deal makes sense, but this bit of info adds an interesting wrinkle to the situation as it appears Bear has settled into the idea that he’s simply not going to get a shot to play much (if at all) for the Hurricanes this season.
Friedman writes:
After mentioning it last weekend, a couple of sources indicated there was a trade request last summer. The Hurricanes’ position is as follows: They consider Bear a legit NHL defenceman and, since they don’t have cap issues, won’t eat part of his salary for “minimal return.” It’s possible Bear ends up on waivers to see if anyone claims him, and word is he would go to AHL Chicago, just because he wants to play.
Friedman adds that Vancouver has shown real interest (which we’ve previously reported) and also that the Washington Capitals were intrigued around the time of the NHL Entry Draft. The NHL insider notes that the Toronto Maple Leafs have kicked tires and with the recent injuries to the Buffalo Sabres’ blue line, they might also be a team that picks up the phone to see what the ask is.
Because the Hurricanes are not willing to retain any of Bear’s salary, it does potentially limit the teams Carolina can deal with, unless, of course, those teams are sending a player back in return that the Hurricanes deem useful. That franchise might be looking for some scoring help as it’s been traditionally a weakness for them in the playoffs. Bear carries a $2.2 million salary for this season.
Friedman mentioned he thought the Ethan Bear situation was going to be resolved on weekend. As of now, nothing has been finalized.
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