by Canucks Communications @Canucks / Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has acquired defenceman Ethan Bear and forward Lane Pederson from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Carolina has retained $400,000 of Ethan Bear’s salary as part of the transaction.

“We’re pleased to have added an established defenceman to our blueline,” said Allvin. “It gives the coaching staff another option with his right shot, his ability to move pucks, and his ability to get the puck out of our own end quick. His transition game has been something that I’ve watched over the years that I like.”

Bear, 25, appeared in 58 games with Carolina last season, recording 14 points (5-9-14), 20 penalty minutes, and a +1 rating. The 5’11”, 197-pound right-shot defenceman also totaled 55 hits and 41 blocked shots, ranking sixth on Carolina in blocks per 60 minutes (2.63) among skaters with more than five games played.

In 190 career regular season games played split between the Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers, Bear has accumulated 47 points (13-34-47) and 77 penalty minutes, including career-highs across the board with Edmonton in 2019.20 (5-16-21 in 71 GP). He also played in 8 career NHL playoff games across the 2020 and 2021 postseasons.

A product of Regina, Saskatchewan, Bear has represented Canada multiple times internationally, earning Bronze at the 2015 IIHF U18 World Championship and Gold at the 2014 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He was originally selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the third round, 124th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Pederson, 25, has appeared in four games for the Chicago Wolves (AHL) so far this season, and spent the 2021.22 season split between the San Jose Sharks (0-2-2 in 29 GP) and their AHL affiliate San Jose Barracuda (9-9-18 in 22 GP). Prior to being acquired via trade by Carolina this offseason, the 6’0″, 192-pound forward had registered five points (1-4-5) in 44 career NHL games for San Jose and the Arizona Coyotes.

The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native has also played 209 games at the AHL level with Chicago, San Jose, and Tucson, posting 142 points (67-75-142) and 112 penalty minutes. He was originally signed by Arizona as an unrestricted free agent on October 13, 2016.

Source: Vancouver Canucks