Carter BEAR

Left Wing/Center
6’0/179
Left
Everett Silvertips/WHL

Related: Lynden Lakovic

Carter Bear is a promising prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft. He plays for the Everett Silvertips in the WHL and is known for his versatility as a forward, excelling in both offensive and defensive roles. Bear stands out for his high hockey IQ, creativity, and adaptability, making him a dual threat as a playmaker and scorer. Despite a recent Achilles injury, Bear’s performance this season having posted 40 goals and 82 points in 56 games with the Everett Silvertips in the WHL. The injury he sustained will definitely hurt his draft stock, as we have seen time and time again teams pass over talented players that sustained major injuries during their draft years. His game has grown astronomically this season, last season in 2023-24, he only had 25 goals and 57 points in 67 games. Bear is the kind of player who can be relied upon to score timely goals and provide reliable detail, and tenacity, in all three zones. It is impossible to envision a situation where Carter Bear is not at least a middle-six forward with a long NHL career. He’s one of the most dominant and intense checking forwards in the CHL: if there’s a battle he’ll win it. Especially considering he’s near the tops of the CHL in scoring, more and more people are starting to get on board with Bear’s offensive game as well. Bear has the upside of being a notorious top-six player. Notorious, meaning well-known for being a nuisance to play against.
He’ll need to do some work to get there, but he totally has the potential to make it happen. His high-end production alone is evidence that he could have a promising future in the NHL.

Size/Strength Average
Skating Average
Shot/Scoring Great
Puckhandling Great
Physical Play Average
Offensive Play Great
Defensive Below Great
Hockey Sense Excellent
Competitiveness Excellent

Strengths

1. Strong goal-scoring ability with creative playmaking, has outstanding situational awareness and decision-making both offensively and defensively.
2. Excels on the power play and penalty kill, showcasing his versatility; has excellent work ethic in every shift of every game.
3. He is willing to engage in physical play and wins a significant percentage of puck battles.

Areas of Improvement

1. Needs to improve acceleration and overall explosiveness, which could elevate his game further.
2. Developing greater strength would enhance his ability to dominate in tight areas, especially in front of the net.
3. A previous Achilles injury raises questions about resilience under demanding physical play.

Scouting Report

Carter Bear is a highly competitive and skilled forward playing for the Everett Silvertips in the WHL, who has put up 40 goals and 42 assists in 56 games this season, however, a recent Achilles injury has caused his season to be cut short. Bear consistently generates high-danger scoring opportunities, averaging 3.4 grade “A” chances and 1.84 inner-slot shots per game. His quick release and soft hands make him a threat near the net, especially on the power play. Bear has excellent vision and passing skills, completing 86% of his passes. Creating space is one of Bear’s main calling cards; his instincts, as well as terrific vision, make that happen. Carter has a nasty side to his game, and it takes a certain kind of player who’s constantly willing to sacrifice their body, but it’s more so the brains that allow him to be so effective. He engages in physical play and wins a significant percentage of puck battles. Bear is more than comfortable engaging physically. He creates a decent chunk of his offense through initiating contact, which keeps offensive zone possessions alive. Though he played more on the wing for the Silvertips, he showed center-like qualities in this way. Even when outnumbered, Bear can win puck battles. He does this through skill and anticipation rather than sheer size. Bear contributes effectively on the penalty kill and disrupts opponents’ plays. Bear’s instincts stand out. He times his puck battle initiations well and often locates the right places on the ice to become a scoring threat. Carter Bear has drawn comparisons to Brad Marchand, who has a similar skillset. Like Marchand, Bear has a knack for being a menace on the ice, combining grit with high-end offensive instincts. His ability to impact all three zones and his relentless forechecking make him a player who could thrive in a top-six role while also being defensively responsible. Bear likes to be involved defensively. This is an area where his instincts shine, too. He closes scoring lanes before they open and leans on his teammates when necessary. If he sees a path to getting the puck out of the zone, he’s not afraid to get aggressive and pressure the puck carrier. Bear got some good experience on Everett’s penalty kill, and he had some success there. It is impossible to envision a situation where Carter Bear is not at least a middle-six forward with a long NHL career. He’s one of the most dominant and intense checking forwards in the CHL. He does everything well and checks all the boxes of what teams look for when looking for a player. Despite injury concerns, Bear has one of (if not the) highest floors in the draft and there’s reason to believe his scoring will translate to the next level.

Skill: Versatile Two Way Forward, with great all around abilities and excellent Hockey IQ

NHL Comparable: Brad Marchand

NHL Potential: Top 6 Two Way Forward

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2023-24	Everett Silvertips	WHL	67	25	57
2024-25	Everett Silvertips	WHL	56	40	82