WHL insider draws Andrew Copp comparison in breakdown of Carter Bear, a projected option at 13th overall for the Detroit Red Wings.
The NHL draft is just edays away and with all the mock drafts from every media outlet, it's difficult to find much on an individual player's talents besides the first couple of picks.
The Detroit Red Wings sit with the 13th overall pick and have been linked to a couple names but one of the names that continues to circulate is Carter Bear from the Everett Silvertips of the WHL.
The 18-year-old forward is coming off a stellar 82-point campaign that was abruptly cut short when the Winnipeg native tore his achilles injury in early March, effectively ending his season with 12 games remaining. His 1.46 points per game average would have put him on track for just short of 100 points through a full 68-game WHL season.
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Luckily for us, WHL insider for The Hockey News, Dawson Petryshen saw Bear play in person just before his injury and can speak to the talent of the player.
"I did get the chance to see him live once, albeit early in the season and he may not have gotten on the scoresheet, he put on two shots and set up a couple decent chances," Petryshen Explained on Bear "I can vouch for what others have said in that he's a hard working forward that's more often than not in the right place, and will make a much more positive impact when he's on the ice."
Petryshen would go onto explain that Bear's vision is what separates him from the rest of the pack as he is able to find open space in the offensive zone and makes him a constant threat to make a play.
Detroit can always use elite playmakers and according to Petryshen, Bear could be a good fit in the Red Wings system as a role player.
"While he may not be a top line talent in the NHL, there is absolutely a future with him in a middle-six role that focuses on checking and providing about 40 points a year and some valuable penalty kill time," Petryshen Said on Bear's Fit in Detroit "If paired with a player like Andrew Copp for veteran presence, or given preseason reps with Lucas Raymond to boost his offence, the future is bright."
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Bear has a similar build to Copp, just an inch shorter at six feet with room to grow, but he’d need to add 26 pounds to match his weight.
The hope is he develops into a comparable player with 50-60 point upside like Petryshen explained and Bear's WHL numbers suggesting it could be possible.
With his high motor, sharp hockey IQ, and physical edge, Bear looks built for the Motor City, both in spirit and style. While questions remain about his health and how he'll recover from such a severe injury, his overall profile points to a future NHLer who’s likely to earn a spot on the Red Wings roster and win over fans along the way.
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