Oilers to turn to familiar face for added depth?!

Earlier this offseason, the Vancouver Canucks declined to give qualifying offers to defenseman Ethan Bear, which has now prompted some pundits to wonder if he could make a return to Edmonton. Jesse Courville-Lynch of the Hockey Writers believes the Oilers should consider a reunion with Bear, who add bring depth on the back end.

“Bear has struggled since his departure, so a reunion as a third-pairing defenseman should be something both sides consider.”

Bear was traded by the Oilers in 2021 and sent to the Carolina Hurricanes in return for Warren Foegele. The change of scenery was not ideal for Bear, who struggled in Raleigh, and was then moved in October 2022 along with Lane Pederson to Vancouver, where he finished out the 2022-23 season.

Unfortunately for him as an unrestricted free agent, the defenseman is currently recovering shoulder surgery that could keep him out until around Christmas time.

This is the type of deal Courville-Lynch suggest for a return to Edmonton:

“I would expect a two-year deal worth $775,000-$800,000 a season for Bear. Obviously, he’s nursing the shoulder injury so the likelihood he gets a contract before he’s healthy is unlikely. It may seem a little far-fetched, but Bear is the perfect player to add to the lineup going forward. Having a guy create some internal competition between himself, Vincent Desharnais and Philip Broberg for the final roster spot will drive up the urgency and consistency from all of them, hopefully leading to stronger performances.”

I don’t disagree. This is not a huge risk for the Oilers, who need affordable options moving forward. Let’s see if a reunion is in the books for Bear and the Oilers for the 2023-24 season.

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