Next Up in Hockeytown: Carter Bear

Let’s start simply with comparing him to the Red Wings recently drafted forwards. The easiest comparison is Nate Danielson because they both played in the WHL. Admittedly, I was really excited for Danielson as a high-end NHL producer and a potential 60-point, smooth-skating center. When Danielson got to Portland, his production was nearly identical to Bear’s in terms of points. Danielson had 1.46 points per game, and Bear has 1.45. The difference is in how they created that offense. Bear is a far more gifted goal scorer. His release has NHL-level power and speed, but his accuracy may need to be developed. Danielson still lacks that. Danielson was solid during his time at the NHL level. If Bear translates the same way with his already similar speed and compete but a better shot, he should have no problem holding down an NHL role.

Marco Kasper has the most similar profile to Bear. Both are smaller, responsible two-way centers who rely on their heavy shots to create offense. If Bear can find his way in the NHL similar to how Kasper found his during the back-half of his rookie season, debate over, he’s the top-line left wing, no problem. But I think the ceiling is higher with Bear due to his ability to create for himself. Both Kasper and Bear can find their way to soft areas on the ice, but Bear shows flashes of high-end speed, hands, and an elite shot while in flight. Unlike Kasper, Bear is already used to the American game, suggesting that if Kasper could play as well as he did, Bear may be able to as well, with more potential.

The rest of the field all has their own reasons for not being threats to grab a top line spot. Mazur and Brandsegg-Nygård just don’t have the high-end complete game you need to play those minutes and produce. Lombardi and Plante don’t fit the profile needed and also have to put on some weight before making the jump to the NHL. Emmitt Finnie gave a great effort in his time, but it was clear he was out of his depth. Options for a top-line left wing from the prospect pool are simply far too thin to humor anyone but Bear, Danielson or Kasper and of them, Bear has the reigns right now.

The 2025 draft class is starting to look really good, really fast. This season, Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, and Benjamin Kindel have had huge impacts on their teams and were big reasons each of the Islanders, Sharks, and Penguins had a shot at the playoffs down the stretch.

Even beyond that, there have been some late debuts from the class, and each of them has impressed so far. Porter Martone has 10 points in his first 9 games, Anton Frondell has 9 points in his first 12, and Eklund, Hagens, and Martin all recorded their first NHL point in a few games each.

Coming from such a stacked draft class, Bear has been able to hang with a lot of his peers in the CHL. He’s looked better than Brady Martin of the Soo Greyhounds has in terms of production and goal scoring. Caleb Desnoyers and Carter Bear have had similar production, with Bear comfortably outscoring Desnoyers and Desnoyers putting up far more assists.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though. Obviously, each of the NHL guys mentioned is further along than Bear is just by nature. In juniors, Jake O’Brien has blown Bear’s totals out of the water. Braeden Cootes has gotten an NHL look, although I still think Bear is the better player. Even Cole Reschny tore up the NCAA in his first season there.

All in all, Bear is about on pace with his peers. Normally, that wouldn’t suggest an NHL spot next year. But given how good the forwards in this draft are, it might just mean that Bear is on pace to make an impact in the same way some of his counterparts have. It’s a good sign.

What Bear Brings to Detroit

Detroit’s forward group has a grocery list of challenges. The good news is, Bear helps address a lot of them. Let’s start with the things Todd McClellan wants to see from his players. Bear has always been known as a hyper competitor. It’s not uncommon to see Bear sprawled out to try to disrupt a play. He’s always attacking the puck carrier and skating downhill at any point in his shift. McClellan wants heart. If nothing else, Bear has that locked down.

Beyond that, Bear has a pretty wide variety of skills he can deploy. Let’s start off with the typical traits. Bear is a plus defender, and I think he will be immediately at the NHL level. I feel stronger about Bear’s defensive game than I did about Emmitt Finnie’s or Marco Kasper’s, and both have been plus defensive players. One of the biggest reasons he can do this is because of his speed. Bear is a naturally gifted skater, both in terms of raw speed and his agility. It combines to make Bear a natural selection of that good ol’ Yzerman type.

What sets him apart is the offense I’ve mentioned earlier. Bear can produce from anywhere and doesn’t waste his shots. He can get shots on target and fast with no problem, and playing him alongside guys like Larkin and Raymond, who can move the puck well, will have no problem trusting him to score more than you’d probably expect. Bear is great at reading the goalie and the defense at the WHL level. Last summer I compared him to Brandon Hagel, I still stand by that. I could see Bear being that high-engine goal-scorer that the top line needs.

I do have some concerns about his decision-making. I’ll acknowledge him sprawling out as good hustle, but it can look pretty reckless at times. Sometimes Bear can get a little too cute and mess up drop passes or overcomplicate plays, but I’ve seen a lot less of that since the WHL postseason, so maybe he’s returned to form.

Wrap Up

Nothing is promised on this team anymore. No veteran has earned a spot, and nobody has cemented themselves as an option for the first-line wing. Next season is going to be even harder to make the playoffs. Florida will be healthy, the Islanders will be ready to take that next step and the Capitals are looking for a better bill of health as well.

Detroit needs an X-Factor and as much as I’d love to sit here and tell you Robertson is coming, he’s probably not. I don’t think Steve Yzerman is done with the external options for the team, but as far as internal improvements go, I don’t see any with the upside of Carter Bear.

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