When an elite -player like Carter Bear is injured, there are two important dates for his team. One is when he returns to the lineup and the other is when he starts to play like he did before the injury. They are usually not the same date.

It takes time for an athlete to regain his or her timing, to trust their body again and to shake off the rust that comes from lack of competition.

That was certainly true for Red Wings 2025 first round pick Carter Bear. He suffered a partially torn Achilles tendon on March 9 of last year and was able to participate in Detroit Red Wings training camp in September and play for the Everett Silvertips in his Western Hockey League Oct. 10 opener.

Carter Bear(1st round’25)
2 Goals 1 Assist +2 6 Shots 2 PIM in a 4-3 OTW
Had a chance for the hat trick with a minute left in the third but goalie robbed him. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/xcdQyjUKOr

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) February 15, 2026

But he needed more time to regain his sharpness. He looked out of step in training camp. But Bear has indeed found his groove now.

Since going three games without a point in mid-November, Bear has produced 23 goals and 21 assists for 44 points in 25 games. His surge has included two four-point games, and five three- point games including Saturday when he chipped in two goals and an assist in a 4-3 overtime game against the Medicine Tigers.

Bear’s Everett team is the No. 1 team in the CHL ranking, meaning its likely he will have a lengthy playoff run this spring. Thus far, the Red Wings look like they are getting good value out of their No. 13 pick

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

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Red Wings’ Lucas Raymond takes responsibility for ill-timed penalty at Olympics.

Grand Rapids Griffins have rediscovered their winning ways.

Red Wings Extra

Dylan Larkin is doing his part as a role player for the 2-0 Americans. He 13-3 in the faceoff circle and even on his plus-minus. . . Left wing Dylan James (40th, 2022) delivered two assists as No. 3-ranked North Dakota downed No. 20 Miami 4-3 in overtime Saturday. James has 17 goals and nine assists for 26 points in 30 games. . . Michal Pradel (75th, 2025) contributed 28 saves to the Tri-City Storm’s 3-2 win against the Chicago Steel Saturday.  Pradel is 14-11-4 for the Storm with a 2.47 goals-against average.

Hockey Now Digest

New Jersey: Should Swedish fans blame Jacob Markstrom instead of Lucas Raymond? New Jersey Devils. 

Pittsburgh: Former Red Wings player Anthony Mantha and Ben Kindel have formed the basis for a workable third line for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

 

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