Red Wings Take Care of Bear Necessities

July is becoming the time of year when the Detroit Red Wings sign their first-round draft picks. This July, it was also about taking care of the Bear necessities.

On Wednesday, the Red Wings announced the 2025 first-round draft pick Carter Bear had agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract. Detroit chose Bear 13th overall on draft day in Los Angeles.

UPDATE: The #RedWings have signed Carter Bear to a three-year, entry-level contract. pic.twitter.com/K1RQtWkXIB

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 16, 2025

The six-foot, 179-pound left-winger led the WHL Everett Silvertips with 40 goals and 82 points, despite being limited to 56 games by an Achilles injury.

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman talked at the end of last season about wanting to get players into his lineup who are more competitive and play a harder game. Bear fits that mold.

“I think he, yeah, he wants competitive players, and I think we both are very competitive,” Bear said. “So. Yeah, that’s a good thing.

“I like being the motor in the park. That’s just me being highly competitive. I want to win every battle, want to win every shift. So I think that’s just me being highly competitive.”

Bear Offers Scouting Report To Red Wings Fans

Bear was happy to self-assess why he would be the type of player that fans in Detroit will come to appreciate.

“I think I’d describe myself as a non-stop hard-working kid who doesn’t like to take a shift off. Always hard on the puck.

“I think I have pretty good puck skills. When I get on the puck, I think I make chances happen. Pretty good IQ for the ice and awareness, and yeah, I think I’m overall, a two-way forward.”

Congratulations to Carter Bear of Peguis First Nation for signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings! pic.twitter.com/GmG1oeycFZ

— Hockey Indigenous (@HKYIndigenous) July 16, 2025

The Red Wings are making it a habit to get their top draftee signed the month after selecting him. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (2024) put pen to paper on his ELC last July 11. Nate Danielson (2023) signed on July 12, 2023. And Marco Kasper (2022) agreed to terms on his first pact with Detroit on July 13, 2022.

By signing Bear, it means the cousin of NHL defenseman Ethan Bear won’t be able to play NCAA hockey. Even with last year’s CHL/NCAA rule change, players under NHL contract are still forbidden from playing college hockey.