Detroit Red Wings acquire a star in Los Angeles: "Holy, who is this guy?"
Photo credit: NHL.com
The Detroit Red Wings acquired a future star at the 2025 Los Angeles Draft, and recent comments from head coach Todd McLellan confirmed it.
Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings had the 13th overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft and decided to select the highly regarded prospect Carter Bear at that rank.
Bear, 18, has a lot of potential and while he showed inconsistent performances since the training camp started, his coaching staff has been impressed by him.
Even if his game has issues, which prompted a Wings assistant coach to remind fans and analysts that Bear is still a "boy," Todd McLellan's feedback on the young player was positive.
Todd McLellan Shares Honest Thoughts On Carter Bear
Set to return to the WHL for another season, Bear still received an invitation to the team's training camp and took part in the first preseason game.
McLellan shared some thoughts about the 13th overall pick following that game:
"You could see why he was drafted where he was drafted, in my opinion. I thought in those really tight areas and the ability to get the shot off and make tight plays (it showed)."
"The long stuff, he's going to get used to. The game is faster. It's heavier."
"He's just spent the summer basically in rehab. So, a summer of rehab and a summer of training are two different things."
"The long stuff, he's going to get used to. The game is faster. It's heavier."
"He's just spent the summer basically in rehab. So, a summer of rehab and a summer of training are two different things."
Playing in junior and the NHL, even during preseason, isn't the same level, and everyone needs time to adapt, especially when they face injuries like Bear did.
McLellan added that he could grow significantly next season, like Connor McDavid did with the Edmonton Oilers:
"He might leave this year and come back, and we'll be going, 'That's the same Bear?' It happened with guys in Edmonton. Connor McDavid, he left, he came back, and we're going, 'Holy, who is this guy?'"
Bear's development will be interesting to follow, but if all goes well, he could turn into a real NHL star over the coming year.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
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