Red Wings sign Carter Bear to three-year, entry-level contract

One of the top picks from this year’s draft has inked his first NHL contract.

On Wednesday, the Detroit Red Wings announced that the team has signed forward Carter Bear to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The Red Wings took Bear in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Bear entered this year’s draft as one of the more sought-after two-way forwards. His versatility shows that he can play down the middle or on the wing. Daily Faceoff draft expert Steven Ellis has Bear as the 14th overall prospect heading into the draft, 10th among forwards.

Bear has spent the entirety of the past two seasons with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League, becoming an exceptional prospect thanks to his incredible work ethic and his ability to play with desperation. He garnered a lot of attention during his rookie campaign in 2023-24, putting up 57 points in 67 games.

The 2024-25 campaign was Bear’s best in junior hockey. The former Winnipeg Thrasher set career highs in goals (40), assists (42) and points (82) in just 56 games. An Achilles injury late in the season took him out of the playoffs, derailing him from bolstering his draft stock even more.

Bear isn’t the biggest guy in the draft class, standing at 6 feet and weighing 176 pounds, but his ability to make players helps him stand out. Ellis believes he’s one of the top prospects coming out of the Western League.

“He’s a difficult player to play against,” Ellis wrote. “His athleticism is top-notch. I still think he goes high in the draft, but it’ll be interesting to see if his late injury impacts his draft status. For what it’s worth, I don’t think so. Bear should be one of the most interesting prospects to watch in the Dub next year as he looks to get back on track.”

Despite being a solid player in the WHL, Bear is one of the few players who were highly ranked on draft boards with no major international experience. He did play one game for Team CHL in the CHL USA Prospects Challenge this past season.

As per the agreement between the NHL and Canadian Hockey League, Bear will either play in the NHL or be sent back to Everett for another year of development next season.