It didn't take long for 13th-overall pick Carter Bear to sign his entry-level contract and become the latest member of the Detroit Red Wings. While we won't see Bear in Hockeytown anytime soon even if he'll wear the winged wheel for a preseason game or two, fans can now be rest assured that he's officially part of the long-term plans.
Bear could've gone even higher in last month's draft if an Achilles injury didn't keep him inactive, Still, he's going to be an important part of a team that needs to solidify its top six. And while stars like Nate Danielson factor in ahead of Bear at the moment, players like Patrick Kane will age out by the time Bear's ready for full-time play in the NHL.
It'll be fun to watch him develop in the junior league with the Everett Silvertips, and chances are, he'll be upping the ante on what was a good year in 2024-25 before his Achilles injury. In case you need a refresher, Bear finished the year with 82 points and 40 goals in just 56 games, which'll set the stage for a monstrous 2025-26.
Bear also recorded a ridiculous plus-33, and he put in 77 penalty minutes. The latter stat gives us some insight on his overall tenacious edge and it's something the Wings need.
Physical play and willingness to score dirty goals is another prerequisite for the Red Wings
While the Wings have some stopgaps who can get in front of the net and give the team a physical outlook, Bear figures to be the solution Steve Yzerman's been looking for. His versatility also means he may not be stuck at center or winger once he's in the big leagues, and he'll have time to add some muscle to his 6'0, 179-lb frame.
If I were to guess, right now, where Bear would most likely fit in, it'd be on the second line at winger. Should Patrick Kane keep playing at a high level this season, the Wings should keep bringing him back until Bear's ready to come in and it would be a smooth transition.
By this point, we should also see Nate Danielson with the big club, and there's a good chance he'll be on the first line. At the moment, I have Elmer Soderblom factoring into the Red Wings top six, so that could also be a spot for Bear once he's ready to go.
As you probably already figured out, there's a lot of speculation here. But the pure upside is that Bear got his entry-level deal out of the way early, like a contingent of draft prospects already have. Now, it's time to sit back and watch him develop.
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