Carter Bear is the 2025 NHL Draft’s most intense scoring forward
Landon DuPont is going to be a special prospect.
Projected to go first overall in 2027, he already looks like a future NHL superstar. In fact, he’s coming off one of the best seasons by an exceptional status player ever.
But if you talk to him, he’s quick to thank one player in particular for his early success: his billet brother and Everett Silvertips teammate, Carter Bear.
“It’s special living with him, seeing what he goes through on a day-to-day basis,” DuPont said earlier this season. “Following his diet, his habits and stuff like that. If I ever have a question, he’s always there for me. He’s one of the guys I really look up to.”
Bear wasn’t on anyone’s pre-season draft boards. But a hot start with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips made him one of the biggest risers early in the season. A late 2006-born forward in a 2007-born draft class, Bear struggled to adapt to the WHL in 2022-23, registering just two points in 19 games. He played a much more prominent role last year, registering an impressive 57 points. Still, it felt like we weren’t seeing anything special out of him.
But Bear credits adding some muscle over the summer as something that really helped him elevate his game. In the end, he’d finish with 40 goals, 82 points and 77 penalty minutes in 56 games, proving he could be an absolute force with and without the puck.
#MeettheFuture ahead of the 2025 #NHLDraft
What other hobby does the @WHLsilvertips’ Carter Bear enjoy in his spare time? Improving his chess skills ♟️ pic.twitter.com/GLxTa53bvE
Projected to be a top 15 pick later this week, Bear is truly one of the draft’s most fascinating wingers. He was one of the WHL’s top scorers before he suffered a partial Achilles tendon laceration early in the spring. Had it not been for that, 90 points would have been attainable.
“(The recovery) is going really well,” Bear said at the 2025 NHL Draft Combine, adding he doesn’t have a timeline to return to game action. “I don’t want to think too ahead of it. I just want to go day to day, feel great, but I also don’t want to push anything to set me back more.”
His injury left a giant hole in Everett’s attack, but it didn’t do much to hurt his draft ranking.
“His shot, his playmaking, his physicality – you roll it all into one and there’s so much to love,” one scout said.
Despite scoring 40 goals, most scouts would say Bear is much, much better as a passer. He is arguably one of the best playmakers in the draft class. And he can create offense without being a liability in his own zone, too. There were plenty of instances where you’d watch him make a great defensive play before rushing the puck out and generating a quality scoring chance without exerting too much energy.
That’s partly due to his conditioning – few players can move as much as he does throughout a game. One scout said he plays like every night is a “must-win-at-all-costs” bout, even during the pre-season. Bear is aggressive and willing to hit everyone, even though he’s not the biggest forward. He’s gritty around the net, showing a willingness to take abuse.
While he doesn’t have the pure makeup of a power forward, Bear’s ability to combine his non-stop motor with his physical prowess and knack for the net makes him incredibly intriguing. He’s a play-driver, by all accounts, and should have no issue taking his skillset to an NHL team’s top six.
Bear models his game after Brandon Hagel – which is as good of a comparison as you’ll find. Hagel has built a career on being as energetic as they come, using his speed and drive to win every shift to his advantage. He also had to bulk up early on in his career to get to where he is today – a 90-point player with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I like to watch Hagel for his work ethic mostly,” Bear said. “When he has a puck like me, he can make chances happen.”
As for what Bear wants to work on this summer?
“I think I have a bad posture when I skate,” Bear said. “I think I lean too forward when I skate. It’s also about lengthening my stride and getting stronger overall, too.”
Bear is the 15th-ranked prospect from Daily Faceoff, but he could potentially go as high as the top 10. Some scouts wonder if his all-out play will translate to the NHL, where players are bigger, stronger and smarter. But right now, it’s hard not to love his game. He loves being engaged in every way possible, and there’s no shortage of teams who could use someone like him.
Don’t mess with the Bear.
Tune in for The Sheet Draft Special, streaming live on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel on Friday, June 27th at 7 PM EST. Hosted by Jeff Marek, this live special will cover all the action from the 2025 Draft, including expert analysis of top prospects, team-by-team breakdowns, and real-time reactions to every pick. Whether you’re tracking your team’s future stars or just love the drama of draft night, this is your go-to destination for all things Draft.