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Capitals' Ethan Bear enters NHL's player assistance program

Bear, the 26-year-old defenseman in his first season with Washington after signing with the team in December, has been a healthy scratch of late.

By Des Bieler | 2024-03-28

Ethan Bear is the fifth player this season, and the second member of the Capitals at the time, to have entered the assistance program. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Washington Capitals defenseman Ethan Bear will be away from the team for an indefinite period after entering the NHL's player assistance program, which is jointly administered by the league and the players union.

The NHL made the announcement Wednesday regarding Bear, 26, who is in his first season with the Capitals. The league noted that, under terms of the program, he can return to play only after getting clearance from its administrators.

The circumstances surrounding a player's care in the program are not typically revealed to the public unless the player chooses to do so. The program was created in 1996 to help players deal with mental health concerns, substance abuse issues and other situations.

Bear, who signed with Washington in December, has been a healthy scratch for the Capitals' past seven games. Washington won six of those contests to climb into playoff position.

Earlier this year, then-Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov entered the program. After the 11-year veteran was cleared to return to practice, Washington placed him on waivers and subsequently traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Other NHL players who have entered the program this season (per the Associated Press) include Samuel Girard and Valeri Nichushkin of the Colorado Avalanche and Patrik Laine of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

While in the program, a player is not on his team's 23-man roster, but his contract continues to count against the salary cap. The Capitals recalled defenseman Vincent Iorio and forward Matthew Phillips from the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears.


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