2015 Draft - 3rd pick: Ethan Bear (2017: Named WHL D-Man of the Year)

[McSuper]

If Bear can get stronger, he will be scary. Smallish guy but he clearly loves to play physical. He was looking to kill people in the prospects tourney but missed a couple would be highlight reel hits. He shows no concern going into the corners as a smaller guy which might be a bad thing going forward.

I think if he gets real strong, he could be a unique player. How many offensively skilled defencemen do you see who love to take the body too in the NHL? Not many.

Stevens, young Phaneuf, Doughty?

I was just reading a scouting report on him and they compare him to Lubomir Visnovsky

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

I had a brief twitter exchange with Mark Seidel from Central Scouting yesterday, and he said he sees Bear as having #4/#5 upside.

I'll take that all day long from a 5th rounder.

so Ryan Ellis-lite ceiling? that would be amazing

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

so Ryan Ellis-lite ceiling? that would be amazing

An NHL defenseman who can contribute with a level of consistency, would be amazing, being a lite-version of a pretty good NHL defenseman would just be a bonus on top of that.

 

[Aceboogie]

My predication is Jones ends up as the better D if both hit potential. Jones seems to have a more pro game and better pro tools. The biggest thing for me is Jones put up points 5 x5 and was top 5 for WHL D for ES points. I consider 5x5 to be more valuable and more translatable than PP points

I think if Jones hits his potential, he could end up like a Petry or Marincin. A 2nd pairing do it all type D.

But Bear has the higher floor. Even if he doesnt progress as much defensively or 5x5, he will still have some value as a potential PP specialist. And I would say his max upside is Ryan Ellis.

So Petry vs Ellis. However this is max upside. Ill take any form of NHL D from either one. And a #4/5 from Bear is a major win

 

[MessierII]

I don't know why people keep comparing him to Ellis. Outside of offence his game isn't even remotely similar.

 

[MessierII]

Yet Ellis probably played a more physical game in junior that Bear does now.

Who's physical game is more likely to translate a guy who's 180 when he's done growing or a guy who's 196 at age 18? I also don't agree with that statement at all anyways.

 

[McDNicks17]

Who's physical game is more likely to translate a guy who's 180 when he's done growing or a guy who's 196 at age 18? I also don't agree with that statement at all anyways.

I don't know. I think Ellis' physical game translated.

Remember this?

 

[Joey Moss]

We should all be stoked if Bear becomes Marc-Andre Bergeron. A bottom pairing defenseman who excels on the PP. Anything more is gravy.

 

[McRobbiezyg]

I don't know. I think Ellis' physical game translated.

Remember this?

Its so funny, Hall gets knocked down by the smallest guys so often. I remember MSL knocking him on his ass as well as another smaller player a few games before

 

[ChaoticOrange]

so Ryan Ellis-lite ceiling? that would be amazing

Ellis would be a dream comparable for Bear. A more physical Krug I can see, too.

 

[Diamondillium]

We should all be stoked if Bear becomes Marc-Andre Bergeron. A bottom pairing defenseman who excels on the PP. Anything more is gravy.

I would not be a fan of Bear becoming the reason we lose a cup.

 

[Aerchon]

I would not be a fan of Bear becoming the reason we lose a cup.

And a puck hog that would shoot and either hit traffic or miss everyone at a rediculous rate.

Who doesn't know what to do anywhere or anytime outside of a PP.

 

[Ragss]

I would not be a fan of Bear becoming the reason we lose a cup.

But without him Patrik Stefan never would have missed that empty net.

 

[DerpMorg]

If Bear becomes a servicable, reliable NHL second or third pairing d-man, I think we should be happy.

 

[McDrai]

We should all be stoked if Bear becomes Marc-Andre Bergeron. A bottom pairing defenseman who excels on the PP. Anything more is gravy.

I don't want to hear that name ever again

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I don't get the comparisons to Ellis, Krug, or Bergeron. Those guys are listed at 5'9, 180, Bear on the other hand is listed at 5'11, 195. He's as close to being Doughty as he is to being Krug.

In terms of his size he's more or less the same as Timonen, Kronwall, Boyle, Wisniewski, Shattenkirk, Leddy, A. Greene, ect. Smaller, sure, but not to the point of where it's a hindrance.

 

[TheRebuild]

Its so funny, Hall gets knocked down by the smallest guys so often. I remember MSL knocking him on his ass as well as another smaller player a few games before

I think it's because, despite being short, those guys are built like brick ****houses, and when they get underneath you, it's easy to lose your center of gravity.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

3rd pairing PP specialist would be great, anything more than that would be gravy.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I don't get the comparisons to Ellis, Krug, or Bergeron. Those guys are listed at 5'9, 180, Bear on the other hand is listed at 5'11, 195. He's as close to being Doughty as he is to being Krug.

In terms of his size he's more or less the same as Timonen, Kronwall, Boyle, Wisniewski, Shattenkirk, Leddy, A. Greene, ect. Smaller, sure, but not to the point of where it's a hindrance.

Size isn't as much of an issue as him needing to get stronger. If he can do that he should be fine.

 

[BleedingOil]

I think it's because, despite being short, those guys are built like brick ****houses, and when they get underneath you, it's easy to lose your center of gravity.

Exactly

 

[syz]

I think it's because, despite being short, those guys are built like brick ****houses, and when they get underneath you, it's easy to lose your center of gravity.

 

[Stud Muffin]

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=131905
Everyone vote for bear so we can see hf melt

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Well, in that mainboards re-draft, Bear goes 30th overall. Not bad for a 5th round pick.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Well, in that mainboards re-draft, Bear goes 30th overall. Not bad for a 5th round pick.

Definitely not, but there's still a long way for him to go to be NHL ready. Hopefully next season he really tears the Dub a new one.

 

[Jejune]

Well, in that mainboards re-draft, Bear goes 30th overall. Not bad for a 5th round pick.

haha, talk about a poll hi-jacked by Oilers fans. I think 14 of the 18 Bear votes at least are from our boards.

Ah well, take what we can get I guess.