The Detroit Red Wings have their newest prospect.
With the No. 13 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Red Wings selected Carter Bear, an 18-year-old winger from the WHL’s Everett Silvertips.
General Manager Steve Yzerman and the rest of the Red Wings front office is under pressure to bring the team back into contention. The Red Wings have missed the playoffs each of the last nine seasons, marking the longest playoff drought in franchise history.
But if draft position is any indication, the Red Wings are making slight improvements year-over-year. The Wings had a top-10 pick every year between 2017-23, with first-round draft picks like Mortiz Seider and Lucas Raymond turning into big-time contributors for the team. But Detroit has picked outside the top 10 in two straight drafts as the team’s rebuilding process has developed.
Yzerman and company are hoping Bear can soon help the Red Wings in their quest to playoff contention.
Here is what NHL experts are saying about the pick:
NHL draft experts on Red Wings first-round pick
Immediately after the pick, ESPN’s Meghan Chayka praised Bear’s well-roundedness.
“Consistency all around the puck. Well-rounded player, impacts all areas of the game,” she said. “He actually had nine game-winning goals this season, and he was the sixth different player in Silvertips history to score over 40 goals.”
ESPN analyst Kevin Weekes compared him to a prolific American winger.
“He has some T.J. Oshie in him,” he said. “I think there’s some unrealized offense.”
Here are some of the immediate reactions from social media:
Carter Bears goes to Detroit at 13th overall.
Hockey Prospecting had him ranked 13th in the Top 32.
Perfect value.
Nice selection for Detroit based on where they were picking. Not many better model bets available than Bear. pic.twitter.com/MM0e0KRUoF
— Byron Bader (@ByronMBader) June 28, 2025
The Detroit Red Wings have selected Carter Bear at 13th overall. I ranked him #10.
I like this pick, Bear suffered a brutal injury but seems to be recovering well. His physicality and skill will be loved in Detroit.#LGRW pic.twitter.com/c6LcC8v4dF
— Nick (@nickiacoban) June 28, 2025
#LGRW select Carter Bear 13th. I ranked him 11th.
Bear – apparently a dawg as well – scored at a solid rate in the WHL this year. The injuries are a concern, but if Detroit is confident in his long term health, this is a solid pick. pic.twitter.com/yVGwcoQtV9
— Patrick Bacon (@TopDownHockey) June 28, 2025How to watch NHL draft day 2
Where: Peacock Theater, Los Angeles.
Date: Saturday, June 27.
Red Wings’ Steve Yzerman & Todd McLellan end of season presser
Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman & coach Todd McLellan, April 29, 2025 in Detroit.
Time: Noon ET.
Channel: NHL Network.
Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo.
Rounds 2-7 of the 2025 NHL Draft will take place on Saturday, June 27, starting at noon ET. The draft can be watched on the NHL Network and streamed on ESPN+ and Fubo.
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com