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

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I love his game and love him since his bantam days but today vs Erie he was awful. Worst game ive seen him play. Fighting the puck and making terrible decisions defensively. Looked extremely nervous.

I have full confidence he will bounce back next game

I guess i gotta keep in mind he is playing with a broken hand though
 
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I wonder if the Oilers might try turning him into a forward? He doesnt give a sniff about playing defence and the Oilers actually need offensively gifted forward prospects more than D right now.
 
Bear along with the rest of Seattle's blue line has had an atrocious first two games. Windsor/Erie skated circles around them while easily trapping them in their d-zone for lengthy periods of time. Bear has had some egregious turnovers including two yesterday in the 1st period. He certainly hasn't looked himself this weekend.
 
He was unbelievable in the last couple game VS Kelowna in round 3 of playoffs in WHL and in the finals VS Regina with his broken hand. These past 2 games he has been horrendous. I realize its easy to blame his broken hand for how he is playing, but if you saw him in the previous games in WHL playoffs, you would know how he was able to play through it and dominate still. These last 2 games aren't the Ethan Bear I know.... he looks completely nervous out there and ive never seen him struggle like this.

If he gets his game together in the do or die game on Tuesday, Seattle can win
 
Del McPreston said:
He's got a giant split on one of his hands. I'm shocked he's actually playing. It doesn't look like he can even grip his stick.
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If you look closely at one of his gloves he has two of the fingers taped together.

Massive props to him for gutting it out, but Seattle has been outclassed.
 
ChaoticOrange said:
If you look closely at one of his gloves he has two of the fingers taped together.

Massive props to him for gutting it out, but Seattle has been outclassed.
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Usually most players would not attempt to play because they couldn't get their hand in a hockey glove like that, so major props to him for even doing that.

I believe he can not shoot at all with that hand so all he can do half decent would be to pass the puck.

It may have become worse since the whl finals as well some do not understand. So I am surprised that staff has even gave him the green light.
 
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Here is a piece on Bear in an article....

Bear still battling

Ethan Bear has had a tough tournament. He has struggled with the puck and has committed some uncharacteristic turnovers that have led to goals.

The WHL Defenseman of the year is still playing with an injured hand, one that required surgery prior to the finals. He has been fighting through the injury but is still wearing a protective cast on his hand.

“He ‘s the one that’s losing the most sleep over it,” Konowalchuk said of his defenseman. “But when he’s doing it with what he’s trying to play through, you don’t fault the guy. We wouldn’t be here without him. He’ll be better and we’ve got to support him better.

“The kid has so much heart and character. Then you get out there and it’s not normal. If he doesn’t have a cast, he doesn’t fumble that puck.”
 
I guess he was playing with a plate and screws with no pain meds in the playoffs and Memorial Cup. Tough young man!
 
McMozesmadness said:

LINK
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That shot is so silky smooth, I could watch that all day. He can either blast it from the point, or pick corners with a sneaky wrister. e oozes confidence and smarts in the offensive end.

Itll be interesting to see how he transitions. His skating is average now and probably biggest knock, but in the offensive end he can walk the line pretty good and can move around with good agility. Maybe its a bit weaker in other areas but it sure isnt slowing him down in offensive end

Its actually pretty hard to be a PP QB/specialist in the NHL but I think Bear can do it. His shot and offensive zone presence is insanely good and probably best in the dub/CHL. Hes good in other areas as well but thatll need work to transition to NHL.
 
Spawn said:
Why wouldn't you take pain pills for that?
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Nunymare said:
He said in his interview on the Oilers site that it was so he could know if he had refractured/injured it further.
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Yeah, since the surgery was just done he didn't want to make it worse by numbing down the pain and overdoing it. He let the injury tell him what he could/couldn't do on the ice.
 
No matter how it goes, for a 20 year old defenseman drafted in the 5th round, that's an encouraging sign in itself.
 
First NHL goal a few minutes ago. Every time I've seen an Oilers game this month, I've been impressed.

He and McDavid are going to produce sweet music on that EDM PP for years. Glad I took him in my keeper league in 2015.
 
He has surprised me this year. I was absolutely convinced that Caleb Jones would have the easier transition to pros and to be the first guy to get a cup of coffee in the NHL while Bear would struggle. Looks like I was wrong. Big congrats to the kid on his first NHL goal, hopefully the first of many. Curious to see where his development goes from here.
 
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