The New York Islanders have signed defenseman Ethan Bear to a one-year, two-way contract extension, keeping an experienced right-shot option in the organization before NHL free agency opens July 1.
The New York Post reported that the Islanders announced the deal Monday. Bear, 28, had been on track to become an unrestricted free agent and spent the 2025-26 season with AHL Bridgeport.
Bear Stays In Islanders System
The contract is a depth move rather than a headline NHL lineup decision. Bear appeared in 40 regular-season games for Bridgeport after a training-camp injury and finished with four goals and 23 assists, leading the affiliate's defensemen in scoring, according to the Post.
Bear has 275 NHL games on his resume, with previous stops including the Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals. His most recent NHL appearance came with Washington in March 2024.
The Islanders are not short on bigger blue-line questions. The Post noted that Tony D'Angelo is set to become an unrestricted free agent, while Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield are the clearest right-side NHL certainties under contract.
Depth Move Before Free Agency
Bear's extension gives Bridgeport a proven AHL producer and gives the NHL club another veteran option if injuries or roster movement thin the right side. It does not settle the Islanders' top-six defense plan by itself.
That distinction matters. The deal keeps a player with substantial NHL experience in the system, but the more immediate impact is organizational stability at a position where the Islanders still have decisions to make before camp.