Player Discussion Ethan Bear: It's a Bear Market

[Cloned]

This guy is playing like prime Brian Rafalski right now. So good.

Click to read more...

 

[thadd]

If you told me he was going be playing this many minutes this year before the season started and minutes on the PK to boot I'd tell u to go home and that ur drunk.

Very impressed.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

He has a ton of poise, really making the most of this opportunity.

I would like him to use his huge shoot more

 

[Del Preston]

Let's get Jim Cramer in here.

 

[Jepprey]

Hes been looking really good this season. You can tell hes quicker and stronger.

Nurse and Bear complement each other well. Larsson and Nurse have trouble getting pucks out their zone. So this is a beautiful change.

Still early though, and hes a rookie so hopefully he can keep it up long term.

 

[Cloned]

Let's get Jim Cramer in here.

Oiler stocks are going up, wayyyyyy up.

 

[ImmuneEH]

If he develops into a top 4 RD, that will be huge for us.

We're already stacked with LD in the system, we can easily cobble something together with Klefbomb, Nurse, Lagesson, Jones, Samorukov, and Broberg.

Prior to this season, things on RD were looking pretty bleak.

• Larsson has steadily regressed since the year we made the playoffs
• Benning seems to have hit his ceiling as a capable 3RD
• We completely rolled the dice on Persson. Before training camp I don't think Bear was expected to make the team, at least by the majority of the fans.

In a couple years, having three RD who can effectively move the puck will really bolster the speed of our team.

 

[The Batman]

He is certainly a treat to watch.

 

[Bangers]

Oiler stocks are going up, wayyyyyy up.

Ethan Bull?

 

[McFlyingV]

I think the offence will come with him, but what's most impressive is his ability to retrieve pucks, get them to the forwards, and he's been doing a good job defending and winning puck battles. Such incredible patience on this kid, and very high hockey IQ.

 

[Draiskull]

Most improved prospect from last year. Seems like he put in a lot of work over the summer.

 

[guymez]

Playing really well.
Got caught out there against the Devils top line and was partially responsible for the Devils 3-2 goal but thats going to happen from time to time.

 

[Bangers]

This thread reminds me of Diamondillium's Bear postings on the prospect ranking threads a few years ago.

 

[The Hound]

I remember when some posters were suggesting Bear would be the one we let go in the expansion draft. I’m glad those opinions changed. So happy for this kid.

 

[snipes]

Him and Nurse look so good together

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

Oiler stocks are going up, wayyyyyy up.

If the Oilers and Bear keep playing like this...

 

[Draiskull]

I remember when some posters were suggesting Bear would be the one we let go in the expansion draft. I’m glad those opinions changed. So happy for this kid.

He could still be the player that gets pried loose. Nurse and Klefbom are certainly better. Not sure if Bouchard needs protection. Russell has the NMC nuance.. Larsson may bounce back … Bear may be the odd man out even if we go 4F 4D route.

 

[Beerfish]

We should look up the off season 'prospect ranking voting' to see how bad it undervalued Bear.

 

[syz]

As long as he isn't getting embarrassed in the defensive zone his value for a team like the Oilers will be high. Team has needed anything even resembling his skill set for years. Same could be said for Persson at this point, tbh.

 

[ImmuneEH]

He could still be the player that gets pried loose. Nurse and Klefbom are certainly better. Not sure if Bouchard needs protection. Russell has the NMC nuance.. Larsson may bounce back … Bear may be the odd man out even if we go 4F 4D route.

Looks like the expansion draft is at the end of next season.

• TMac did us a huge favour by forcing Chia to send Bouchard down last year. As a result, Bouchard will not need to be protected.
• Russell will not need to be protected, because he will have just played out his contract.
• Nuge and Larsson will be pending UFA's, but we hold onto their rights until July 1st. They will need to be protected.
• As for players in the system, JP, Benson, Marody, Yamamoto, Bear, Jones, Lagesson, and Persson need to be protected.

My protected list, if I had to choose today (7F 3D): McDavid, Draisaitl, Nuge, Neal, Kassian, Benson, Yamamoto | Klefbomb, Nurse, Bear

Bear > Larsson because I'd rather hang onto the blossoming young guy vs the vet who is slowly getting phased out due to the current state of the game.

Edit: this clause "One defenseman who is a) under contract in 2021-22 and b) played in at least 40 NHL games the prior season or played in at least 70 NHL games in the prior two seasons." will complicate things.

 

[Rusoilers]

And he has just bearly started

 

[McDNicks17]

Taking the top pairing spot with his Bear hands.

 

[Pulju Propagandist]

Love how his game is translating from Seattle. It’s been a treat to watch him develop, even in Saskatchewan.

 

[KarmaPolice]

He's finally starting to live up to the potential I saw in him a few years ago. Glad he's not making me look bad like most of my other calls. Hope he can stay healthy and keep it up.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Someone should make a picture of a Bear in a Nurse outfit...that's our top pairing.