While rumors swirled that the Red Wings might trade the 13th overall pick in the draft, Steve Yzerman held onto it and picked forward Carter Bear on Friday night.
Bear is a 6'0 winger who scored 40 goals for the Everett Silvertips of the WHL last season. His campaign ended early due to a slightly lacerated Achilles tendon, but the Red Wings clearly feel comfortable with the medical reports.
"We think he’s an extremely intelligent hockey player, very competitive, and highly skilled," Yzerman said on ESPN shortly after the pick was announced. "And obviously, scoring 40 goals this year, a great goal-scorer. We just think he’s an excellent all-around player.
"From everyone we’ve spoken to, his former teammates, coaches, everyone thinks extremely highly of him. We think we found ourselves a special young prospect."
That's the rub, of course. Bear is 18, turning 19 in November, and still a few years away from potentially making an impact in the NHL. The Red Wings are mired in a franchise-worst nine-year playoff drought and desperate for more proven talent, hence the rumors surrounding their top pick.
There's still a chance that Yzerman could swing a deal in the coming days or weeks, as he did after the 2023 draft when he traded a future first-round pick for Alex DeBrincat.
But for now, the Red Wings feel good about drafting Bear, who, if he reaches his ceiling, has the edge along with the talent to make them a harder team to play against down the line. Per his Elite Prospects profile, Bear is a willing combatant who "leaves nothing to chance" and brings a "playoffs-every-night mentality" to each game.
No matter the size of the opponent, he enters every battle with speed and never concedes an inch. ... He powers through contact to get to the net, relentlessly battles in the slot for tips and rebounds, and dominates play from the hashmarks and in.
That certainly sounds like a player who can help the Red Wings in the future. For now, the present will have to wait.