The Islanders announced that the club has signed defenseman Ethan Bear to a one-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) contract.
The New York Islanders announced Monday that they have agreed to terms with veteran blueliner Ethan Bear on a one-year, two-way contract that can be split between the NHL and AHL.
Bear, 28, spent the 2025-26 season with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders, appearing in 40 games and tallying four goals and 23 assists for 27 points. His production led all Bridgeport defensemen in points per game. The Saskatchewan native has accumulated 191 career AHL appearances, including a standout 2024-25 campaign with the Hershey Bears, where he paced the club with 46 points on 10 goals and 36 assists in 62 contests. His performance earned him an AHL All-Star selection and a spot on the league’s Second All-Star Team.
Originally chosen by the Edmonton Oilers in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft, Bear has gone on to play 275 NHL games with the Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, and Washington Capitals. Over that span, he has recorded 17 goals and 50 assists for 67 points. Internationally, he represented Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship and helped the team capture a gold medal.
Before turning professional, Bear starred for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the Western Hockey League. During the 2016-17 season, he earned WHL Defenseman of the Year honors, helped guide Seattle to a league championship, and was named to the WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team.
Leave a Reply