Tweet of note (from me): Why the Red Wings may not sign Carter Bear this summer

The summer signing season is upon us, at least for 1st round draft picks taken in the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles this past June…

But we haven’t seen the Red Wings sign 13th overall pick Carter Bear, who’s returning to the WHL’s Everett Silvertips this upcoming season.

Why?

Put simply, as long as Bear remains unsigned, the 18-year-old remains an “amateur player,” and if he wants to head to an NCAA Division 1 school after this season in Everett, his options remain open. If Bear signs with the Red Wings, that option closes as he becomes a professional player in the eyes of the NCAA.

At this point, it’s more important for Bear to have options educationally speaking and hockey-wise as opposed to giving the Red Wings total control over Bear’s future.

I’m sure that Bear would like to earn a signing bonus right now, but it just feels like it’s a better option to remain college-eligible.

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!