According to insider Elliotte Friedman, Bear's contract talks have picked up significantly today. Friedman confirmed early reports of Bear being too expensive for the Vancouver Canucks to sign him, and now, he's close to finalizing a deal with the Washington Capitals.
Bear, now 26 years old, was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL draft. He went on to play 132 games with the Oilers, before being traded to the Hurricanes for Warren Foegele. Bear has established himself as a quality top-six defenceman, with great analytical stats to back his success.
According to previous reports, Bear is seeking a contract similar to his last one with the Canucks, likely being a short-term deal around a value of $2M.
