Detroit Red Wings coach Todd McLellan had nothing but admiration for the club’s 2025 first-round pick Carter Bear.
McLellan, going into his first full season at the helm in Detroit, has been impressed with what he’s seen from Bear.
The 18-year-old got an invite from the Red Wings to their camp this season, but will likely head back to the WHL for one final year. The club is eager to see what they have in the 13th overall pick from this summer’s draft. So far, the early returns look extremely positive.
Detroit Hockey Now quoted McLellan, who had this to say about Bear: “You could see why he was drafted where he was drafted, in my opinion. I thought in those really tight areas and the ability to get the shot off and make tight plays (it showed).”
Despite Bear’s strong play so far in camp, it’s crucial to remember he’s still only 18. So, there’s plenty of room to grow. That situation has prompted assistant coach Alex Tanguay to refer to Bear as still “a boy.”
But that won’t be the case forever. Another strong season in the WHL and continued development in the Red Wings system could lead Bear to become a bona fide NHLer.
McLellan added the following comment regarding Bear’s evolution: “The long stuff, he’s going to get used to. The game is faster. It’s heavier.”
Indeed, there’s a vast difference between playing with teenagers in junior hockey and grown men in the NHL. That situation, however, has not deterred McLellan from singing the praises of Carter Bear.
Red Wings patient with Carter Bear as he returns from injury
One notable point regarding Carter Bear this fall is his return from injury. Last season, Bear sustained an Achilles injury. That’s one of the trickiest sorts of injuries, as it isn’t always predictable how long it could take a player to fully recover from it.
McLellan had this to say about Bear’s recovery from injury: “He’s just spent the summer basically of rehab. So, a summer of rehab and a summer of training are two different things.”
The Wings’ veteran coach made an interesting point. Rehabbing from an injury takes away from activities that allow players to prepare for an upcoming season. As such, it’s not surprising to see Bear lag somewhat behind his teammates.
But then again, McLellan drew from his experience coaching another high-end player. McLellan expounded on this situation by stating: “He might leave this year and come back, and we’ll be going, ‘That’s the same Bear?'. It happened with guys in Edmonton. Connor McDavid, he left, he came back, and we’re going, ‘Holy, who is this guy?’"
While comparing Bear to Connor McDavid is a lofty endeavor, the fact is that the Wings think highly of their latest first-round pick. That situation prompted McLellan to declare: “They just mature and they grow up and they start to shave and they do all those things. They just become men. And Carter will do that.”
If Carter Bear can mature the way McLellan and the Red Wings hope, he could become the next great Detroit forward.