With injuries piling up on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ defense, the team needs solutions. Ethan Bear, a free agent defenseman, could be a valuable addition.
Bear’s Strengths:
- Experience: Bear has five seasons and 251 NHL games under his belt, averaging nearly 19 minutes per game.
- Defensive Contributions: He boasts strong defensive skills, with an average of 1.24 hits and 0.79 blocked shots per game.
- Offensive Potential: While not a top offensive threat, Bear has averaged 0.25 points per game throughout his career.
- Cost-Effective As a free agent, he could be more affordable than acquiring a player through a trade.
- Short-Term Solution: Bear could provide stability on defense until injured key players like Timothy Liljegren and Mark Giordano return.
Alternatives:
- Top-Four Defenseman Trade: Players like Chris Tanev have been linked to the Maple Leafs, but acquiring a top-four defenseman through a trade would likely be expensive.
- Promoting from Within: Calling up a prospect from the AHL is an option, but it carries the risk that the prospect may not be ready for the NHL.
Conclusion:
While Ethan Bear wouldn’t solve all the Maple Leafs’ defensive problems, he could be a valuable addition as a cost-effective, short-term solution. The team should seriously consider signing him as a free agent.