Hurricanes' Ethan Bear enters COVID protocol

The Carolina Hurricanes might have Seth Jarvis in the lineup Monday night, but they won’t have Ethan Bear. The young defenseman has tested positive for coronavirus and entered the league’s COVID protocol.

Bear, 24, has been excellent for the Hurricanes so far this season, recording six points in 16 games while averaging more than 18 minutes a night. The former Edmonton Oilers defenseman is in his first year with the new club after a trade brought him to Carolina in exchange for Warren Foegele.

In the second season of a two-year, $4 million deal signed in 2020, Bear will be looking for another raise this offseason when he hits arbitration-eligible restricted free agency. His current back-loaded deal means he’ll be owed a $2.4 million qualifying offer, and strong play could even have him in line for a multi-year extension.

With that in mind, any absence from the lineup is a notable one, as the Hurricanes will have to look elsewhere for Bear’s minutes on the back end. Because he is a confirmed positive case, if he experiences any symptoms, he’ll miss a minimum of 10 days. Considering that head coach Rod Brind’Amour told reporters including Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer earlier Monday that Bear was “not feeling great” it is safe to assume that he is symptomatic.