2025 Draft-eligible Carter Bear exudes gamer energy in every sense

If you're like me, you feel the blow of missing out on drafting Brady Tkachuk in 2018, then passing up on Ryan Leonard in 2023; leaving the Montreal Canadiens instead with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and David Reinbacher.

Kent Hughes has taken the reins and brilliantly, using his calculated style, and the services of Jeff Gorton. Together the pair have added some quality to the club's prospect pool. That's not to say they are guaranteed but Lane Hutson and Juraj Slafkovsky are both carving up the ice for the Habs.

And, given the way their development team has done recent work, there is a high chance that many more players drafted by the club will soon get their chance with the Canadiens.

The Canadiens have a few guys in the system who will play a physically grinding style - Luke Tuch, Florian Xhekaj and Tyler Thorpe. But they lack a top-six potential forward who plays with an edge, impacts the game in all three zones, and has great offensive touch and IQ. Ranked in the top 10 of the 2025 NHL Draft class, there is a player who has drawn comparisons to Brad Marchand, and Travis Konecny, and I feel like he has some Tkachuk in his blood.

This goal, his 19th of the year was one from early in the season, displayed the one-on-one skill that Bear possesses. He also showed that he is completely capable of putting the puck in tight spaces at top speed. Bear has a physical edge like Leonard, Tkachuk, Marchand and Konecny, and his two-way abilities make him a menace to deal with, just like the aforementioned players.

Montreal has Juraj Slafkovsky, Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine, but they don't exactly play a style that uses their frames to their advantage. Dach and Laine are finesses players, and Slafkovsky is very streaky, sometimes playing well below his stature, and then dominating with his speed, strength and reach. Bear is also a pretty solid centre, who is on pace for his first 100-point season - which attests to his versatility.

Bear is speedy and tenacious on the forecheck, and he loves to create down-low and attacks well from the half-wall in the offensive zone. He is relentless on the backcheck, forcing turnovers and transitioning quickly toward a scoring opportunity. Bear goes hard to the net, and his immense toolkit serves him well to fool opposing goaltenders.

If there was ever any proof needed that abrasive, sandpaper-style players are essential for winning, just look at past Stanley Cup winners. The Florida Panthers had Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett, who set the tone against the Edmonton Oilers, early and often. And there is also the Vegas Golden Knights, who had Nicolas Roy and Ivan Barbashev.

Bear would be a tremendous addition to the Canadiens, and I think that he would be the missing piece after Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage make the jump to the top six, to be the sixth and final piece. I think that the top line is set, and I think Demidov, Hage and Bear would be a tremendous second line. Putting Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook down to the third line will make the team stronger because there are plenty of other future hopefuls set to join the fold over the next couple of seasons.

Patrik Laine hate is wild

Patrik Laine is playing through some frustration, whether it's his condition or still feeling the ill effects of surgery recovery. Laine's footspeed is non-existent of late, and even the lethal aspect of his shot has fizzled out. It hasn't been going well for Laine of late, who hasn't been scoring goals or doing much in his off-puck game.

I think he deserves to be criticized for poor play, but it's a little premature, some of the suggestions are to trade Laine. Martin St. Louis's approach of benching Laine to send a message during the third period of the Canadiens' eventual 3-2 loss, I think was heard loud and clear. And if it wasn't, his line at practice was compiled with Jake Evans and Joel Armia, two of the Habs best defensive forwards, on what is the third line.

He has played poorly, and more effort is expected of him from St. Louis and the Habs coaching staff. It's as simple as that, and he will have a chance in a decreased role on the third line, to try and get back in the coach's good graces. It doesn't matter what your career resumé looks like, if you're playing poorly, then it's time to play decreased minutes or sit in the pressbox.