As the NHL Draft draws near, excitement and speculation are reaching fever pitch among Montreal Canadiens fans, all eager to see which young talent will become the newest member of their beloved team. Among the many names circulating in draft conversations, one stands out and has captured the collective imagination of the Habs faithful: Carter Bear.

With his impressive performances in the WHL and comparisons to gritty, high-impact NHLers like Brad Marchand and Brendan Gallagher, Bear is rapidly becoming a fan favorite even before setting foot on NHL ice. The buzz around him has only intensified as he recently expressed his genuine enthusiasm for the possibility of joining the Canadiens, a sentiment that has only fueled the excitement in Montreal.

As draft day approaches and the spotlight grows brighter, all eyes are on Bear and the Canadiens’ front office to see if this promising young forward will indeed become the next chapter in Montreal’s storied hockey history. For fans and analysts alike, the anticipation is palpable, and the story of Carter Bear is quickly becoming one of the most compelling narratives of this year’s draft season.

Photo credit: Elite Prospects

More and more, there’s one name that seems to really interest Montreal Canadiens fans, with less than a month to go before the NHL Draft.

We’re talking about young forward Carter Bear, who is often compared to players like Brad Marchand, Brandon Hagel, or Brendan Gallagher.

He genuinely seems like someone who could be the steal of the draft-especially if he slips to the Canadiens’ 16th overall pick.. and now he’s just sent a very interesting message.

Carter Bear sends his message and confirms he’d be thrilled to play for the Montreal Canadiens

The young man would love to play for the Habs-he truly seems to have a preference for Montreal, and I honestly think the feeling is mutual.

Here’s an excerpt from an article by the excellent Nicolas Cloutier (from TVA Sports), specifically about Bear.

It’s when you mention Montreal that Bear gives his most heartfelt answer.

He’s at a loss for words on the other end of the line.

“That would be pretty cool.

Like.. really cool.

There’s just so much history with Montreal.

How many [legendary] players have come from that organization?

I can’t find the words.

It would be pretty special to be part of it,” he said with a touch of excitement in his voice.

We highly recommend checking out the full feature.

It’ll be fascinating to follow at the draft, and we’ll see if Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton find a way to get Bear.

Carter Bear, 18 years old, 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, recorded 82 points in 56 games this season, including 40 goals (in the WHL).