Confirmed with Link: Oilers sign Ethan Bear to ELC

[Stoneman89]

Yeah I haven't been a fan of Fleming since he took over, just get the feeling he prioritizes winning over the proper development of prospects.

Either way there will be lots of ice time to be earned by these young incoming blue liners. I'd like to see them try and keep Oesterle and Simpson around as they could be good call up options but also provide experience at that level. I'm assuming Fayne probably still there unless he's bought out or traded somehow. Then you've got Bear, Jones, Mantha, Paigin all likely there.

Reinhart is intriguing, my guess is that if he isn't picked in expansion or packaged in a trade that he will be a replacement for Gryba as the 7th defenseman.

And Todd Nelson, who was loved by so many, didn't?

 

[John Connor McDavid]

Interesting situation with the duo of Bear/Jones approaching their pro careers.

Jones has similar size and better numbers than TJ Brodie at the same age (outscored 19-year old Brodie as an 18-year old in fact).

Bear is more in the Tory Krug mold with his dynamic skating/strength making him undersized yet relevant.

If either can turn into even 60% of what Brodie/Krug have become we are laughing to the bank.

 

[Aceboogie]

Interesting situation with the duo of Bear/Jones approaching their pro careers.

Jones has similar size and better numbers than TJ Brodie at the same age (outscored 19-year old Brodie as an 18-year old in fact).

Bear is more in the Tory Krug mold with his dynamic skating/strength making him undersized yet relevant.

If either can turn into even 60% of what Brodie/Krug have become we are laughing to the bank.

Its great that both are entering AHL at same time too. Down the road I see them being a good fit together as pairing actually, either in AHL or even NHL

 

[Zaddy]

Interesting situation with the duo of Bear/Jones approaching their pro careers.

Jones has similar size and better numbers than TJ Brodie at the same age (outscored 19-year old Brodie as an 18-year old in fact).

Bear is more in the Tory Krug mold with his dynamic skating/strength making him undersized yet relevant.

If either can turn into even 60% of what Brodie/Krug have become we are laughing to the bank.

Don't think Bear is anything like Krug, and he's not exactly a dynamic skater from what I've seen. I think his skating is probably the weakest part of his game right now.

 

[walktheboulavard]

Interesting situation with the duo of Bear/Jones approaching their pro careers.

Jones has similar size and better numbers than TJ Brodie at the same age (outscored 19-year old Brodie as an 18-year old in fact).

Bear is more in the Tory Krug mold with his dynamic skating/strength making him undersized yet relevant.

If either can turn into even 60% of what Brodie/Krug have become we are laughing to the bank.

Yeah, I think we struck gold with these two. In hindsight they would have been selected significantly higher then they were in the draft.

As for Jones/TJ Brodie comparison, I've been observing how eerily similar they are as player comparisons, for a while now. Both excel on their off side and are excellent on their back hand, dynamic and fast skaters with good puck skills. They were selected 3 picks apart and a day apart on their birthdays too . However, he did say he models his game after Roman Josi, so why not be a little greedy and hope that's more his ceiling

Bear, if all things go well with his development can turn out to be an excellent PP specialist. I too think his limitations as a skater might prove to be a little challenging for him in becoming a top 4D at the NHL level. He can certainly improve on his edge work and maybe get a little faster as he gets stronger, but you can't teach speed, it's god given and you either have it or you don't. If he turns into that an amazing PP QB and is able to utilize that RHS from the point and is also able to hold his own defensively, that's still a hell of a steal as we have more than enough D that project to be top 4 and can shelter him.

 

[McMozesmadness]

Bear - Krug comparable is way off to me. I like my Ryan Ellis comp.

As for Jones he reminds me of Josi. Can't think the game like Josi though.

Of course these are just stylistic.

 

[walktheboulavard]

Bear - Krug comparable is way off to me. I like my Ryan Ellis comp.

As for Jones he reminds me of Josi. Can't think the game like Josi though.

Of course these are just stylistic.

Josi has some elite level IQ so I don't know if it's really fair to compare that part of their game. That is not say he lacks in that department though, I've seen him make some intelligent plays in a lot of the games i've watched him play. He does play a high risk high reward type of game though and some of it comes with how often he handles the puck. It's always on his stick and definitely the best player on a lot of the Portland games i've seen.

 

[Fonzerelli]

Jones and Bear are very very raw prospects that are both going to take some time to develop. If one of them make it we will be doing good. Junior to the AHL is going to be a really big step for these players, ECHL next year or junior again is rather likely.

What????

Absolutely and 100% completely NO CHANCE that either player EVER steps foot in the ECHL or plays another game of junior. Zero. Nada. No chance.

Both will be in the AHL next year and either or both might even get a cup of coffee (or more) with the big team.

 

[Fonzerelli]

Funny the Maple Leafs would send back Adam Brooks this year as a over ager when he dominated it last year?

Brooks is an excellent junior player, but he's not a legit NHL prospect.

Bear and Jones are. Plus, the Marlies were LOADED this year, even carrying 3 players in the million dollar club due to making room for youth with the Maple Leafs. There was no place to put Brooks and they decided the WHL was a better option for him than the ECHL.

 

[Fonzerelli]

I think the AHL is going to be a real challenge for both next year.

They are likely top 10 dmen in the WHL this year. Its not like they have been dominating the league since they were 16.

They have both been dominant players in the WHL since getting here. Jones came later due to NTDP commitment. Both were impact players from the get-go and have nothing left to prove or accomplish in junior

 

[Fonzerelli]

Kinda crazy the WHL has 2 5th round picks in the top3 of scoring. Heres a really interesting question. Better prospect? Hobbs? Bear?

That's a great question. Two draft day steals. Different players. Both with a hell of a shot. Not sure which is better. Both Hockey Canada snubs, and IMO, their ommission make Hockey Canada look like a bunch of fools. It's about time Jankowski was shown the door

 

[GMofOilers]

Bear - Krug comparable is way off to me. I like my Ryan Ellis comp.

As for Jones he reminds me of Josi. Can't think the game like Josi though.

Of course these are just stylistic.

More realistic comparison

Bear Micheal Stone

Jones Jeff Petry

 

[GMofOilers]

What????

Absolutely and 100% completely NO CHANCE that either player EVER steps foot in the ECHL or plays another game of junior. Zero. Nada. No chance.

Both will be in the AHL next year and either or both might even get a cup of coffee (or more) with the big team.

I dont know, I have watched thousands of NHL prospects in major junior. I wouldnt put Bear and Jones in that legit category right now.

For the record I will say to me," legit" NHL prospect means that they will for sure play in the NHL. Even then I have been wrong on some of those, they didnt make it.

 

[Up the Irons]

Im getting jacked to watch this kid at the Memorial Cup!!

 

[KarmaPolice]

I have a huge amount of faith in him. I think he could be our #4 Dman, on the 2nd pairing with Sekera as soon as the '18-'19 season (the season after next). His stats the last 2 seasons in the WHL have been incredible, and I've had the pleasure of watching him play a few times, and he is one tough little bugger. Plays much bigger than his size, yet doesn't go overboard to get himself injured. Also oozes offensive upside and hockey IQ in general. I really think he's our best D prospect by quite a bit.

 

[Up the Irons]

I have a huge amount of faith in him. I think he could be our #4 Dman, on the 2nd pairing with Sekera as soon as the '18-'19 season (the season after next). His stats the last 2 seasons in the WHL have been incredible, and I've had the pleasure of watching him play a few times, and he is one tough little bugger. Plays much bigger than his size, yet doesn't go overboard to get himself injured. Also oozes offensive upside and hockey IQ in general. I really think he's our best D prospect by quite a bit.

they make em tough in Saskatch.

do you know, is he an over-ager with the Seattle this year?

 

[KarmaPolice]

they make em tough in Saskatch.

do you know, is he an over-ager with the Seattle this year?

This past season he was not an over-ager, but if he goes back to junior this fall then this would be his over-age season. He's still 19, and doesn't turn 20 until June 26th. But I'd be shocked if he doesn't make the AHL team in Bakersfield. The only thing he really needs to improve on is his defense (as with most Dmen his age), and another year in the WHL I don't think would be best for him; I think he could learn a lot more in the AHL. But there's a lot more that goes into that decision (including if they have room on the AHL squad, etc.), so we'll see.

 

[McSuper]

they make em tough in Saskatch.

do you know, is he an over-ager with the Seattle this year?

delete

 

[McSuper]

they make em tough in Saskatch.

do you know, is he an over-ager with the Seattle this year?

Like this

 

[McDNicks17]

Says a lot about a coach when people don't want their top prospect in a development league, because they're afraid of the way he will deploy them. We need these 2 to play heavy minutes and in all situations.

Seems like any prospect that was good enough to play in the league was playing big minutes and excelling down there.

Slepyshev, Khaira, Reinhart, Laleggia, Oesterle, Simpson, etc.


Might be time to put the pitchforks away when it comes to Pulju since every coach he's played under this season has deployed him the same way.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

I dont know, I have watched thousands of NHL prospects in major junior. I wouldnt put Bear and Jones in that legit category right now.

For the record I will say to me," legit" NHL prospect means that they will for sure play in the NHL. Even then I have been wrong on some of those, they didnt make it.

You might have missed that the Oilers don't have an ECHL affiliate anymore.

There is less than zero chance that the Oilers hand off the development of Bear or Jones to another organization's farm team - just to play in a lesser league.

I think what you'll see is more situations like Lagesson's - where players are farmed out overseas or maybe even to USHL teams - not sure how that works.

I think in Bako next season we see something like:

Oesterle-Paigin
Jones-Mantha
Simpson-Bear
Betker-Fayne
AHL Vet

Reinhart I think will either be a Golden Knight or on the Oilers roster, particularly with Sekera out til god knows when.

Klef-Larss
Nurse-Russell
Reinhart-Benning

Remember AHL teams like to keep a ton of extra players around in case of injuries/callups. There's no roster limit, so they can carry 8,10,12 defencemen and the only detriment is playing time.

 

[GMofOilers]

You might have missed that the Oilers don't have an ECHL affiliate anymore.

There is less than zero chance that the Oilers hand off the development of Bear or Jones to another organization's farm team - just to play in a lesser league.

I think what you'll see is more situations like Lagesson's - where players are farmed out overseas or maybe even to USHL teams - not sure how that works.

I think in Bako next season we see something like:

Oesterle-Paigin
Jones-Mantha
Simpson-Bear
Betker-Fayne
AHL Vet

Reinhart I think will either be a Golden Knight or on the Oilers roster, particularly with Sekera out til god knows when.

Klef-Larss
Nurse-Russell
Reinhart-Benning

Remember AHL teams like to keep a ton of extra players around in case of injuries/callups. There's no roster limit, so they can carry 8,10,12 defencemen and the only detriment is playing time.

The playing time is why I said maybe AHL isnt the way to go for these 2. They need to keep developing.

Maybe they play AHL next year and totally blow my expectations out of the water. We will see.

 

[Jamie]

Sorry? What? This guy is a bear and plays hockey? I don't think that's right. I'm pro animal rights.

 

[iCanada]

Its too bad Ilya Bryzgalov isn't in the NHL anymore, and we don't have any forest games.

^_^

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Does this mean we'll be running with 3x rookie Dmen on the farm?

Bear Jones Mantha?