Bleacher Report’s Hannah Stuart “checks in” on every NHL team’s 2025 1st round pick some 13 months after the 2025 NHL Draft, and, in the Red Wings’ case, Everett Silvertips graduate and 13th overall pick Carter Bear has recovered well from a partially torn Achilles tendon suffered toward the end of the 2024-2025 campaign.
Bear’s turning pro this upcoming season with a WHL title in tow, preparing for his first full campaign with the Grand Rapids Griffins:
13. Detroit Red Wings: Carter Bear, LW
How He Performed During 2025-26 Season:
At first glance, it would be easy to assume that Carter Bear had a worse season with the Everett Silvertips than his draft year. This is why we don’t judge at first glance, and instead look further for context. Bear’s point totals this season were lower, with 77 points in 53 games compared to 82 points in 56 the year before, and he got off to a slow start.
But his point-per-game pace wasn’t really different; last year’s was 1.46 points-per-game, where this year’s was 1.45. He also tallied 22 points in 18 postseason games with the Silvertips. Add to that the fact that Bear was in the middle of overhauling certain aspects of his game, and you have a different viewpoint from which to judge. He really focused on improving the physical side of his game this year, clearly working with an eye toward his professional hockey future as he became more of a net-front presence while also developing other physical aspects of his game.
Future Outlook:
He probably needs more seasoning, so don’t take this as a 100 percent pronouncement, but it would not be surprising to see Carter Bear make the Red Wings next season. The organization is undergoing changes at the top, and captain Dylan Larkin’s trade request has been all over the news, so it’s hard to project anything firmly right now.
But Bear would benefit from the challenge of professional hockey, and the Red Wings would benefit from his intensity and never-quit motor. It’s not really something they have in large amounts right now.
Continued; Bear is not overly big at 6′ and 187 pounds, but he’s stocky, he’s plucky, and he’s got a lot of take-no-shit grit to his game.
I don’t expect him to make the Red Wings out of training camp, but he does have a bright future, not only due to his skill set, but also because he’s got a hell of a work ethic and “compete level.”
