The Oilers organization is coming off a week full of stars.
Outside of the incredible play of Connor McDavid this past week, which got him the honour of the NHL’s 3rd star of the week, Oilers prospect Ethan Bear was also named the WHL’s Player of the Week. Bear is coming off a week in which he put up 10pts in 5 games played. Being that he is a defenceman, it is no surprise that he is being recognized for his tremendous week.
While Bear is enjoying a streak of success of late, it is often forgotten just how good he has been with the Seattle Thunderbirds this season. His 62pts in 59 GP ranks 2nd in the WHL, trailing only Connor Hobbs of the Regina Pats.
The Oilers have lacked a defenceman with elite offensive abilities, and Bear offers the team a glimpse of what could be an incredible NHLer in the near future.
Who is Ethan Bear?
Ethan Bear is a 19-year-old right-handed defenceman who currently plays for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL.
Small in stature at 5’11, Bear does, however, have the weight to be an intimidating presence, as he clocks in at around 211lbs. This has helped his ability to be physical yet, there is still plenty of room for improvement in that regard.
He is heralded as being a solid two-way defenceman that carries a high level of intelligence onto the ice, as well as possessing the attributes of a smooth skating puck-moving defender. His positioning is another strong point in his game, being very grounded and organized in his own end. He isn’t as susceptible to scrambling and running around the defensive zone. His defensive abilities are very polished for a 19 year old.
In terms of his offensive abilities, this is where things start to get scary…in a good way. When Bear was drafted in 2015, he had come off a respectable 39pt season with the Thunderbirds. Since then he has exploded in terms of production, putting up 65pts in 69 games during the 2015/16 season and currently having 62pts in 59 games. If one thing is for sure, it is that Ethan Bear is getting better offensively as he matures.
He is also a versatile player that can log big minutes. Being utilized in almost every situation by Seattle, be it the power-play or the penalty-kill, Bear has succeeded in being the go-to guy with his WHL club.
As it should be expected in every young hockey player, Bear does have his flaws. His physicality and skating are two area in which scouts say he has to improve. Something which is definitely achievable before he makes the jump into professional hockey.
He was left off of Canada’s WJHC camp list this year, much to the dismay of Oiler fans, yet that has not deterred him from playing the game that he plays best.
Oh ya….did I mention that he was right-handed as well?
So, where are we at with Bear?
Ethan Bear’s tenure with the Edmonton Oilers organization started back at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Fresh off the drafting of Connor McDavid, Peter Chiarelli and the Oilers shifted their attention to the blue-line with some of their later picks. Previously drafting Caleb Jones in the 4th round, the team didn’t flinch when they called Bear’s name in the 5th round at pick #124.
Going into his draft year, Bear had played in 69 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds, tallying a respectable 39pts in that span. Many believed that he was drafted because of his size, he was upwards of 200lbs as an 18-year-old. However, many overlooked the keen hockey IQ that he possessed.
He has since been to two training camps with the Oilers, giving us fans a taste of what he can bring. In both, the coaching staff had, rightfully, decided to send him back down to the WHL to further develop his game.
He is turning 20 years old in June of this year, so he will be entering his final year of WHL eligibility next season. If he shows up to training camp and makes a strong enough case, we could very well see Ethan Bear getting some NHL time next season.
What Does He Bring To The Oilers?
A better question would be what doesn’t he bring to the Oilers?
Ethan Bear is not your typical blue-chip defensive prospect but he does possess a treasure trove of desirable aspects. His mobility with the puck is perhaps the most valuable asset that he brings to the Edmonton Oilers, as puck moving defenseman are always in high demand.
Another thing working in Bear’s favour is his offensive touch. The Oilers are currently loaded with talented young defensive defenceman, like that of Adam Larsson and Darnell Nurse, yet they do not have a guy who can put up crooked numbers when it comes to scoring. Keen for unleashing one-timers toward opposing goaltenders, Ethan Bear could very well become the powerplay quarterback that has eluded the Oilers since the demise of Sheldon Souray.
The fact that Bear is right-handed is a huge deal for the Edmonton Oilers, who lack talented RHD prospects. This will allow the team to have flexibility down the road. Currently, the Oilers boast Adam Larsson and Matt Benning on the right-side, which would allow Bear to potentially start his NHL career on the bottom pair. To contrast, the left side of the blue line has Oscar Klefbom, Darnell Nurse, and, assuming we lose Brandon Davidson, Andrej Sekera. This is what I would call a very balanced defensive group that can play their proper sides. The fact that this is achievable should excite the Oiler fanbase, as our defensive depth chart in 3 or so years has the potential to look something like this:
Adam Larsson – Oscar Klefbom
Matt Benning – Darnell Nurse
Ethan Bear – Andrej Sekera
Overall, Ethan Bear could bring a solid two-way game to the Oilers, one that is successful in all 3 zones of the ice. If he can manage to translate his current offense into the big leagues, perhaps he could put up a few 50+ point seasons with the club, although it is far too early to start pinning those expectations on a 19 year old who hasn’t graduated from his junior team quite yet.
So, to conclude:
Ethan Bear has all the makings of a late round steal. He is on pace for a career high in points thus far in Seattle, and people are starting to notice. While he may not be ready to step into the NHL next season, a few years with Seattle and Bakersfield could do wonders in developing him to be the right-handed offensive defenceman that the Oilers have been looking for what seems like an eternity.
Only time will tell….
Thanks For Reading!
Find me on Twitter @PrestonKixFM
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
