RD Ethan Bear - Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL (2015, 124th, EDM)

[dudeoverhere]

check out this video, 5 on 3 has Gropp, Kolesar and Bear setup a sweet one-timer, pretty sweet cant wait till playoffs this weekend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeRcRjqOjAY

 

[R S]

check out this video, 5 on 3 has Gropp, Kolesar, Theodore and Bear setup a sweet one-timer, pretty sweet cant wait till playoffs this weekend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeRcRjqOjAY

Very cool.

His shot is definitely his best asset IMO.

 

[theIceWookie]

I just.......have......like zero idea what this means. I think you're confusing him with #33 Jared Hauf. Or is this a bear reference (majority of bears are not 6'5")?

I think he was making a joke about his last name lol.

And the average grizzly bear is about 6 and a half feet so he wasn't really off there, his weight was quite off though...

 

[S E P H]

He's risen in your books but is only a 6th? Where did you have him before? I felt I was being harsh on him throughout the year considering him to be roughly a 5th rounder.

I didn't have him as a drafted player, which is why I mentioned Lees. He was right on the outside and looked more of a rookie or main camp invitee instead.

I think he was making a joke about his last name lol.

And the average grizzly bear is about 6 and a half feet so he wasn't really off there, his weight was quite off though...

If he's talking about grizzly bears, they're definitely around that height, but still, majority of bear species aren't close to 6'5. If I remember anything from my biology class from like 5-6 years ago, I think the biggest bears are the North American Grizzly in Alaska, a type of bear in either Switzerland or Romania, a bear in the Chinese or Japan mountains (not panda bears, another different kind), and the ultimate Polar Bear in the arctic climates which is like a school bus. All bears are dangerous, don't get me wrong, but I think they're are a handful of bears that get that big.

 

[puckfan13]

Have liked his play at the U18's thus far. Would provide good value as a 3rd or 4th rounder in my mind, Mayo slipped to the 5th last year. Some very interesting tools here, should continue to develop and progress into quite the puck-moving and offensive threat in the WHL over the next couple of years. There's an element of risk and skittishness that will creep into his game at times, but have to like the tools, slanted more towards where the NHL game is heading and what coaches are demanding from their defensemen.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Will be Seattle's #1dman next year... Great all around dman

 

[dudeoverhere]

His been good for a long time, another strong Saskatchewan hockey player, having a good outing so far at u18 IIHF World Championships, goal and assist, 2nd pairing with other WHL defender Parker Wotherspoon. Bear is 97th on CSS rankings currently. Button with TSN has him lower at 67...looks like a solid third rounder to me, I wouldn't be surprised if a team from Western Canada takes him earlier than expected.

 

[Electric Eric]

His been good for a long time, another strong Saskatchewan hockey player, having a good outing so far at u18 IIHF World Championships, goal and assist, 2nd pairing with other WHL defender Parker Wotherspoon. Bear is 97th on CSS rankings currently. Button with TSN has him lower at 67...looks like a solid third rounder to me, I wouldn't be surprised if a team from Western Canada takes him earlier than expected.

Could be a solid PR pick for the Canucks.

 

[R S]

Finishes the year as my 17th best WHL prospect for the 2015 NHL Draft: http://whl-from-above.blogspot.ca/2015/05/final-whl-rankings-2015-nhl-draft.html

#17 Ethan Bear

Team: Seattle Thunderbirds
Position: D
Shoots: R
Height: 5’11
Weight: 200
GP: 69
Goals: 13
Assists: 25
Points: 38
Pts/Gm: 0.55

Player Analysis: Ethan Bear is a sturdy offensive defender for the Seattle Thunderbirds…is a solid skater with a powerful but composed stride…despite having powerful bursts around the ice he gets around with seemingly minimal effort, a credit to his smooth skating stride…shows good footwork and an ability to go east-west, looking light on his feet…despite his sharp and nimble skating ability he’s not an overly fast or purely dynamic skater…I would classify him as an efficient skater more than anything else…makes quick decisions when the puck is on his stick…is good in transition both in his ability to advance the puck smartly and in his ability to get involved in the rush up the ice…is a crisp and accurate passer…both his slapshot and wrist shot are very good…his one-timer is probably his best asset…gets it off quickly and it’s an absolute bomb…an accurate shooter of the puck…if he can eventually make it to the NHL it wouldn’t surprise me if he was an eventual 15-goal scorer at that level…displays a strong ability to keep pucks in while holding his ground at the offensive blueline…doesn’t panic under pressure when the puck is on his stick…away from the puck he likes to bang bodies and shows a high level of compete, albeit somewhat inconsistent…viewings showed me some other fairly regular inconsistencies in parts of his game…doesn’t always seem committed to making the best decision with the puck, turning it over after slightly lazy decision making…he also seems to lose interest here and there throughout the game, leaving him susceptible to blown coverage defensively and other general mistakes…is prone to quit moving his feet a tad during defensive coverage, meaning he gives up body position and ends up reaching, using his stick and chasing the play…I also have some concerns about his size and style translating to the NHL level…he has some similarities to a guy like Tyson Barrie in Colorado, but isn’t nearly as dynamic in his skating to make up for his other weaknesses like Barrie is…his game is also somewhat similar to a guy like Marek Zidlicky as an undersized puck mover with a big time shot…he’s listed at 6’0 on his WHL team page but 5’11 by NHL Central Scouting…was a regular on the penalty kill for the Thunderbirds while also being counted on as a main option on the powerplay, behind only Shea Theodore…showed versatility throughout their defensive lineup this year playing with a variety of partners and also showing the ability to play the left side in some situations…he ended the season by playing 15 straight games alongside Turner Ottenbreit on Seattle’s 3rd defensive pairing…was one of the most productive draft-eligible defenders in the entire WHL this season…exactly doubled his point totals this season compared to his rookie year, going from 19 to 38 in fewer games…finished 2nd in goals, 5th in points and 5th in points-per-game among all first-year draft-eligible WHL defencemen…despite having 0.55 PPG, only 0.22 of that came at even-strength…scored 6.34% of all Seattle goals during the regular season, the highest percentage of any first-year draft-eligible WHL defenceman…either scored or assisted on 18.54% of Seattle’s goals this year, the 4th highest such percentage among first-year draft-eligible WHL defencemen…his 11 primary assists was good for 7th best among all first-year draft-eligible WHL defencemen…was a 2nd round pick, 25th overall, by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft…overall I see Bear as a player who has some flaws but also does a lot of things well…the big question obviously becomes, does his skillset project effectively at the NHL level?...I think with the right work ethic he definitely has the skills to be a successful bottom-pairing, second-PP unit type of guy…that work ethic and the interview process is obviously going to be very key for him and how he’s valued by NHL organizations…I think we’ll see him come off the board in the 4th or 5th round come June, despite being productive enough to be considered a top 100 pick, which is what I would consider him…

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Really impressive start to the year for Bear.

11 Games - 3-9-12, +7, 8 PIM - more than double the points of the next closest blueliner for the T-Birds.

Currently 7th in the WHL for defenceman scoring.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

he is filling in real well for the departed Theodore. Real good pick by the Oilers

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

quietly having a real impressive season. Currently has 20 points in 19 games and is 6th in dmen scoring in the WHL and only 2 points away from the lead. Nobody is really talking about him but he is playing real well and is very strong on the PP with Barzal. Currently more points than some well known dmen like Provorov, Fleury and fellow Oiler prospect Jones...and only 2 points back of Philly pick Travis Sanheim. Look for him to potentially finish in top 3-5 of dmen scoring this year.

Great pick by the Oilers with this choice

 

[covfefe]

Great pick by the Oilers with this choice

OT but how has Gropp been this season?

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Ethan Bear is now tied for the WHL lead in scoring by defencemen:

20 Games - 5-17-22, +8

 

[Aceboogie]

Ethan Bear is now tied for the WHL lead in scoring by defencemen:

20 Games - 5-17-22, +8

Solid wow

Weird having prospects who actually do well in junior

 

[docbenton]

I always liked this guy, great name, plays hard and a well-rounded game. The scoring is nice but I don't think he's going to be an offensive defenseman. Should be an NHL player IMO.

 

[seadawg]

I always liked this guy, great name, plays hard and a well-rounded game. The scoring is nice but I don't think he's going to be an offensive defenseman. Should be an NHL player IMO.

That's what I'm excited about. I don't care if he becomes an offensive defenseman. I just want the Oilers to finally get some NHL caliber dmen on the roster. When you add Bear to a roster that includes Nurse and Klefbom, the potential is there for the Oilers to field a decent three pairings.

 

[Aceboogie]

Currently the only ppg+ D in the WHL or OHL with 28 points in 27 games. Wonder what more he'd have to do to get wjc interest

 

[FLYguy3911]

Currently the only ppg+ D in the WHL or OHL with 28 points in 27 games. Wonder what more he'd have to do to get wjc interest

...not named Travis Sanheim?

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

...not named Travis Sanheim?

haha ya I was thinking the same thing.. Sanheim only has played 22 games and has 28 points. 5 less games than Bear

 

[Aceboogie]

...not named Travis Sanheim?

Misread the 21 games for 27. Second with Sanhiem

 

[McNurse]

What do you think this guys absolute ceiling is? #3 or #4?

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

What do you think this guys absolute ceiling is? #3 or #4?

I love Bear in the WHL and think he is awesome but I really don't know what his NHL ceiling is. I think he will need a few years in the AHL and then possibly eventually play in the NHL. I am on the fence about his NHL potential, but for the time being let him have a strong season this year and then next year he may be the top WHL dman and go from there... WHL/AHL ceiling is high, but for NHL, I really don't know yet

Im surprised he didn't get a WJC invite this year... I think next year he will be on the team though

 

[Aceonfire*]

What do you think this guys absolute ceiling is? #3 or #4?

I see him at best as a Krug type of D. Wicked shot, decent on the PP, but don't expect 24:00 minutes a night.

That's fine though because we need guys like him in the system.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

3g. 1a. last night

33 points in 29 games now and leading the WHL in dmen scoring. I imagine he will build a huge lead now with many guys missing time while at WJCs