Carter Bear rocketed up some draft boards this season after his performance with the Everett Silvertips. The gritty center recorded 82 points in 56 games, and he quickly emerged as someone who would be a perfect fit with the Montreal Canadiens.
The only problem was that as Bear rose, the Canadiens started playing better, quickly forming a gap between Montreal's first draft pick and Bear's likely selection. Some publications have him as low as 22, but others have him as high as seventh.
Bear's draft stock took a bit of a hit after a scary-looking injury where he suffered a lacerated Achilles tendon. Depending on the severity of the injury, it could've cost Bear over a year of a prime developmental year. However, according to Elite Prospects' Cam Robinson, Bear might've avoided the worst-case scenario.
"Just two months after partially cutting his Achilles tendon, Carter Bear is not only back on the ice, he's progressing so quickly that it appears likely he'll be ready for the World Junior Summer Showcase in July."Cam Robinson
It's great news for the prospect and the sport. Bear is an exciting young player and the draft, World Junior Summer Showcase, and subsequent developmental camps will be better with him in them. The problem with the quick recovery is that it doesn't do the Canadiens any favors in helping land the player.
You never want to see a player fall in the draft because of an injury, but there's a chance he would've looked less attractive to some of the teams ahead of the Canadiens with such a high pick. Montreal would've hoped that it would keep him available until the 16th pick, but that could be in trouble now.
Robinson previously said during the Bear injury that he would still be in contention for a top-15 pick depending on the recovery. For Canadiens fans, they might need to hope that Kent Hughes will find a way to trade up a couple of spot to get the center. If not, the hot streak to end the season for five playoff games might've put them out of contention for the consensus favorite pick.