Author: 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!

Late-night Carter Bear talk from Yzerman and Draper

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a late-night article which discusses the Red Wings’ drafting of Carter Bear with the 13th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and he offers perspectives on Bear from both GM Steve Yzerman and assistant GM/director of amateur scouting Kris Draper:

“We had a couple of teams call us as our pick was coming near, to see if we would move back,” Yzerman said. “As long as Carter was on the board, we stayed there. There were a couple other players as well that we would have been comfortable in selecting. (Wings fans) are getting a very intelligent player, extremely competitive, he can really score at the junior level, and we think all of his game translates to the NHL.”

Bear scored 40 goals before suffering an Achilles injury in March that ended his season. Bear is expected to be ready for training camp.

“We were aware of that, examined it fully and we expect it to heal,” Yzerman said. “He didn’t tear it but had a cut with a skate and partial tear that our doctors feel will heal 100 percent. It wasn’t a concern for us at all.”

…

Draper was impressed with Bear’s tenacity, competitiveness and offensive skills while scouting Bear’s Everett team in the WHL. Draper was thrilled Bear was available when the Wings picked 13th.

“Very skilled, very tenacious, we like the way he thinks the game,” Draper said. “He’s a player that played in all situations. He can play up and down the lineup. He’s the type of player when you go watch him play, you walk out of the rink and really appreciate the effort he gave. We added a real big piece to our prospect pool.”

Draper also told Kulfan that the 2nd through 7th rounds, in which the Red Wings have 8 picks later today during the second day of the 2025 NHL Draft (12 PM EDT start on the NHL Network and Sportsnet), should provide some value:

“There’s some good hockey players that’ll come out of this draft,” Draper said. “You saw a lot of forwards, a lot of centermen who got drafted early. This is a really good group. There are some names, certainly in our second-round pick (Saturday), we’re excited to have an opportunity to draft them but like tonight, we have to wait. We go down our list and make our decision from there. It’s wait and see.”

For better or worse, the Red Wings are doggedly faithful to their list of players to target, so we’ll see some “off the board” picks for sure on Saturday afternoon, but that’s to be expected.

Also: the Wings posted a late-night montage of Bear’s better goals from the 2024-2025 season, in which he played for the WHL’s Everett Silvertips:

A trio of draft experts weigh in on the Wings’ drafting of Carter Bear

I readily admit that I’m not a draft expert. Between watching Red Wings games, other NHL games, cooking shows, and the whole “being a caregiver to an 83-year-old aunt” thing, I don’t really get the time to head out to local rinks and scout players.

That’s unfortunate given the wealth of competitive hockey around the Metro Detroit area, but it is what it is–I can’t take Aunt Annie and her two titanium hips to every rink–so I defer to the experts in this instance.

So: three draft experts, two from The Athletic and one from FloHockey.tv, have weighed in on the Red Wings’ decision to draft Carter Bear with the 13th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and here’s what they had to say:

First, Corey Pronman offers this assessment of the Bear pick:

13. Detroit Red Wings: Carter Bear, LW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

November 4, 2006 | 6′ 0″ | 179 pounds

Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Player comparable: Troy Terry

Analysis: Bear was a leading player on a top team in the WHL this season before a recent injury knocked him out for the remainder of the year. He’s a very skilled forward with the quick twitch hands and high-end creativity to create offense at the NHL level. He makes a lot of plays through defenders and to his teammates. Bear’s skill stands out, but the way he creates offense should likely translate to higher levels. He gets to the net to generate chances, plays fast and is a good enough skater. He’s also a highly physical winger who creates a lot of chances in traffic. He projects as a top-six winger who coaches will feel comfortable using in any situation.

Pick grade: B

The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler also weighed in, deeming the Red Wings an “overtime winner” in his draft-winners-and-losers column:

Continue reading A trio of draft experts weigh in on the Wings’ drafting of Carter Bear

Yzerman ‘kicked the tires’ on trades, stuck with Carter Bear

Updated at 1:03 AM: MLive’s Ansar Khan asked Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman whether he was tempted to make a trade before the team made Carter Bear their 13th overall pick during the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, and Khan received a surprising, Ken Holland-style “kick the tires” answer:

“I talked to every team in the league; you have some conversations with some teams that are interested in our assets and vice versa,” Yzerman said. Friday after the first round. “And ultimately, at least up to tonight, haven’t found anything that was a fit for myself or anyone that I’ve been speaking with.”

So, Yzerman used his top pick to select left wing Carter Bear, a goal-scorer with a high complete level. As with most draft picks, it’ll be a few years before he reaches the NHL, but Bear fills an organizational need.

“I think (we’re) getting a very intelligent hockey player, extremely competitive, and at the junior level, he really can score,” Yzerman said. “And we think all of his game translates to the NHL as well. I think our fan base will really take to him when the time comes that he’s playing for the Red Wings because he competes hard. He’s a really good person. We’re very excited about this pick.”

Some fans were hoping Yzerman would use the pick for immediate help. Forwards JJ Peterka (Buffalo to Utah), Evander Kane (Edmonton to Vancouver) and Trevor Zegras (Anaheim to Philadelphia) and defensemen Noah Dobson (Islanders to Montreal) and Charlie Coyle (Colorado to Columbus) were among the more notable players moved this week.

It doesn’t sound as if Yzerman was close to making a deal, prior to or during the first round.

“We had a couple of teams call us as our pick was coming near to see if we would move back,” Yzerman said. “As long as Carter was on the board, we were prepared to stay there. In fact, there’s a couple other players as well, had he been selected that we would have been more than happy with selecting.”

Update: Here’s a bit more from the Detroit News’s John Niyo:

Detroit’s scouts were bullish on Bear, in particular, for obvious reasons. He’s a left-shot winger who scored 40 goals and racked up 82 points in 56 games for Everett in the Western Hockey League last season. Yet what made the 6-foot, 180-pounder an even more enticing prospect is the way he put up those numbers. He’s got the requisite two-way defensive reliability and the hockey IQ the Wings demand, but he also plays with a noticeable edge, whether it’s going hard on the forecheck, winning puck battles or scoring in traffic around the net.

“He’s hard to play against, and he’s tenacious,” Yzerman said. “He plays a style of hockey that is conducive to winning, that good players on good teams do.”

Bear said he models his game after Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel, who has emerged as a perennial 30-goal scorer and plays with an edge. And while there’s clearly some high-end skill and plenty of hockey sense here, it’s the rest of it that the Wings are banking on making a difference in their lineup one day.

“I think that’s just me being competitive,” said Bear, who also had nine game-winning goals for the Silvertips this winter. “That’s just me not wanting to lose. I hate losing more than I love winning. So it just all comes down to I want it more. Every time I step on the ice, I want it more than every player on the ice. That’s my mindset when I go on the ice and that’s how my motor always goes.”

Continued

Tweet of note: Well, SOMEbody liked the decentralized NHL Draft

Per Elite Prospects, DLLS Stars and Shap Shots’ (among others) Sean Shapiro:

Carter Bear’s First Nations community celebrated his NHL draft day

The Winnipeg Free Press’s Mike McIntyre reports that Carter Bear’s community in Manitoba’s Peguis First Nation had a “watch party” of the NHL Draft, and McIntyre spoke with both Carter and his community’s chief regarding Bear’s status as the 13th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings:

“That shows how proud they are. I’m proud of where I’m from — my community and my Indigenous background,” he told the Free Press via Zoom shortly after having his name called.

It takes a village, as the saying goes, and Bear was feeling especially thankful to everyone in his world who helped him get to this stage. He’s the first Manitoba hockey player to be drafted in the opening round since Strathclair’s Conor Geekie went 11th-overall to the Arizona Coyotes in 2022.

“My Mom and Dad, they’ve done so much for me,” said Bear, who was overcome with emotion at times. “I’m out of words. This is just unreal.”

The party was in full swing at the Peguis Multiplex, where community members gathered to watch one of their own under the bright lights in Hollywood.

“Everyone here knew about this evening and are super excited for him and proud of his accomplishment,” said Chief Stan Bird.

“Considering everything our community has gone through, and what we’re still continuing to experience in terms of addictions and other negative things, I think this is a really positive event for our community. He’s someone our young people look up to. It shows what hard work brings. It sets a really good example for our young people.”

Continued

Press release: Wings select Carter Bear in 1st round of 2025 NHL Draft

Officially official:

RED WINGS SELECT FORWARD CARTER BEAR 13TH OVERALL IN 2025 NHL DRAFT 

  … Bear Led WHL’s Everett Silvertips with 82 Points in 56 Games During 2024-25 Season …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today selected forward Carter Bear in the first round (13th overall) of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.

Bear played the 2024-25 season with the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips and ranked among the team leaders with 40 goals (1st), 42 assists (4th), 82 points (1st), a plus-33 rating (7th), 77 penalty minutes (2nd), 14 power play goals (1st), 27 power play points (T1st), two shorthanded goals (T2nd), nine game-winning goals (1st) and 185 shots (4th) in 56 games. The 6-foot, 179-pound forward earned a place on the WHL’s Western Conference Second All-Star Team. Bear spent the entire 2023-24 campaign with the Silvertips, recording 57 points (25-32-57), a plus-23 rating and 26 penalty minutes in 67 regular-season games, in addition to four assists in nine postseason contests. In total, Bear has compiled 141 points (66-75-141), a plus-53 rating and 103 penalty minutes in 142 WHL games with the Silvertips since 2022-23.

A native of Winnipeg, Man., Bear played the majority of the 2022-23 season with the Winnipeg Thrashers in the Manitoba U18 Hockey League, capturing Most Valuable Player honors and a spot on the league’s First All-Star Team after recording 59 points (32-27-59) and 24 penalty minutes in 31 regular-season games, along with two points (1-1-2) in three postseason matchups. Bear also spent the 2021-22 season with the Thrashers’ under-18 squad, notching 42 points (25-17-42) and 34 penalty minutes in 39 regular-season games, in addition to two points (1-1-2) in three playoff games. Bear skated with Team Manitoba at the 2021-22 WHL Cup, finishing with one assist in five appearances.

Detroit currently has eight selections for the second day of the 2025 Entry Draft: one in the second round (44th overall), two in the third round (75th and 76th), one in the fourth round (119th), one in the fifth round (140th), one in the sixth round (172nd) and two in the seventh round (204th and 211th).

Kulfan, St. James, Allen on Carter Bear, updated with video

Updated at 10:56 PM: The Detroit Red Wings drafted Everett Silvertips winger Carter Bear with their 13th overall draft pick at the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles. After Bear was drafted, he spoke with several media members, including the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:

Bear (6-foot, 180 pounds), who suffered a partially torn Achilles tendon that ended his season in March, scored 40 goals in 56 games for Everett (WHL). Bear said expects to be ready for training camp.

“I’m skating right now,” said Bear on a Zoom call with Detroit media after being selected. “It’s about 80 percent I would say, not getting into contact yet right now, but it’s good for the season with Everett for sure.”

Not competing in the playoffs was a disappointment but Bear found out much about himself in the rehabilitation.

“Pretty bummed out when you can’t play with your team,” Bear said. “I tried to take it in a positive way going through this whole stage in recovery. To hear my name called, it’s kind of a relief for sure. I’m grateful to think of what Detroit thinks of me and to give me an opportunity.”

Bear was emotional after hearing his name called by the Wings and broke down in an interview with ESPN.

“It really did (hit me),” Bear said. “I didn’t really realize (how emotional he was) until I was in that building and it hit me hard.”

Bear is one of the fiercest competitors in this draft, going to the net and playing a hard, edgy game. But he combines that with an offensive ability that’s among the best in the draft.

“Wanting the puck, creating plays, I have a hard nose with the puck in front of the net for sure,” Bear said. “I’m at the right spots at the right time.”

Continued; I like the pick. Scoring and intensity are two things that the Red Wings need in their prospect pool, and the more competitive they can get, the better they will be in the future.

The Free Press’s Helene St. James also posted Bear’s Zoom interview:

The Wings also posted a clip of Bear’s post-draft scrum:

Here’s a little more from Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen:

Continue reading Kulfan, St. James, Allen on Carter Bear, updated with video

Red Wings select Carter Bear 13th overall

The Detroit Red Wings drafted forward Carter Bear with the 13th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Continue reading Red Wings select Carter Bear 13th overall

Not expecting surprises as the Red Wings’ ‘little engine that could’ steams along at a familiar pace

It’s been a long time since I got behind the keyboard and wrote a blog entry, but not so much has changed when it comes to the Detroit Red Wings.

The Wings have been following their front office’s usually methodical path through the offseason, not yet choosing whether to buy out Justin Holl or Vladimir Tarasenko, and instead, revealing plans for the team’s Centennial celebrations, re-signing Griffins defensemen Antti Tuomisto (a prospect with a little bit of runway left to develop at 24 years of age) and William Lagesson (a 29-year-old d-man who dutifully served as the Wings’ 7th defenseman in warm-ups for the vast majority of the regular season)…

And that’s about it. We can all guess that the Wings are probably eying diminutive Swede William Eklund with the 13th overall pick, and then they’ll draft 8 more players on Saturday in LA…

We know that the team is going to sign more Grand Rapids Griffins players before the Summer Development Camp begins on Monday and free agency begins on Tuesday…

And there are a lot of people who are frustrated with the team right now, because their front office doesn’t seem to be doing what the Detroit News’s Bob Wojnowski prescribed yesterday night:

Continue reading Not expecting surprises as the Red Wings’ ‘little engine that could’ steams along at a familiar pace