You already know my opinion on the Detroit Red Wings first-round pick. I like the player, but the only right decision was to trade the pick, and Steve Yzerman didn't do that. Now, let's put what I had to say up against some of the experts.
Hannah Stuart over at Bleacher Report said, "It's not at all surprising that the Detroit Red Wings saw their opportunity to snag him at 13th and ran for the podium (metaphorically). They're getting a phenomenal competitor with a huge amount of skill, and after so many years out of the playoffs, the excitement Bear brings when he steps on the ice is much-needed."
Hannah gave the pick an A. And I agree with the analysis here. If the Red Wings were to keep the 13th pick, Carter Bear was one of those players I'd have been perfectly fine with. So, when the great Dave Coulier - the same Dave Coulier who I looked forward to watching on Nick at Nite when I was younger - announced the pick, I was like, "Okay, I can deal with that."
As with any draft pick who won't be with the team for a few years unless they show us otherwise in camp, Bear won't be wearing a winged wheel sweater during a regular season game anytime soon. It's why I wanted to see the Wings trade the pick. But if I graded the pick itself without any trade talk, an A would've been my verdict, too.
Experts from all over the hockey universe like what the Red Wings did at No. 13
Mary Clarke of USA Today was a little less forgiving with a B grade, but still said, "A versatile two-way player with offensive upside, Bear is a great fit for a Red Wings team looking for more skill on offense. Plus, not only can he play the wing, he can also slot in at center as needed. We'll have to see how he fits in on the Red Wings, but Detroit is getting a solid playmaker and point producer here."
That's still a rock-solid analysis for somene who could transform into a viable NHL player, a likely second if not a first-liner. His versatility is another reason I liked this pick, even if I'm griping about letting yet another opportunity for a trade slip.
Like, for real, Steve Yzerman, your response to the Canadiens can't involve drafting a player who's years away from playing full-time in the NHL. Still, what's done is done, and it's also not like Yzerman couldn't package Bear up in a trade later on and send him elsewhere.
Sooner or later, you gotta start trading some prospects
Right now, the saving grace for Yzerman is that he can still pawn off prospects in the system for proven NHL talent. And, if someone like Bear crushes it this season, then what's not to say that's exactly Yzerman's intention?
And it doesn't just have to be Carter Bear, but any high-end prospect who can bring in a potential game-changer would be great for the Red Wings. Especially around the trade deadline, where Yzerman's been as close to a do-nothing front office executive as he can get.
And from what the fans have been saying lately, which is ripe enough for a topic of its own, I'm 100 percent sure most will be on the same page with me. Start exploring better options, Mr. Yzerman, even if a lot of us at least like having Carter Bear in the system.
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