The Detroit Red Wings picked up a big preseason win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. Preseason hockey may not matter much to fans. However, to hopeful prospects such as Emmitt Finnie, these games are the difference between minor league and NHL roster spots.
Finnie is an intriguing prospect. He’s a former seventh-round pick from the 2023 NHL Draft. He broke out as an elite point producer in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers. Last season, he made his way south of the border, joining the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins late in the year.
Now, the 20-year-old Lethbridge native is trying to crack Detroit’s roster. He has made an impression in Red Wings training camp to this point. And in their preseason opener, he may have been the best player on the ice.
Finnie had a beautiful assist on a Carter Mazur goal in the first period. Later in the game, he stripped the puck from Blackhawks star Connor Bedard. The ensuing sequence saw Finnie bury the go-ahead goal, which went on to become the game-winning marker.
After the game, head coach Todd McLellan spoke highly of the 20-year-old. He had heard a lot about him entering training camp. Seeing him in action has given the veteran bench boss a lot to think about, though.
“Emmitt’s a worker, he’s a tenacious player, he’s a good skater so far, but he (also) gets things done,” McLellan said, via The Athletic’s Max Bultman. “Something happens when he’s out there. And so far, so good.”
Emmitt Finnie Draws Intriguing Comparison
Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesEmmitt Finnie has started rising through the ranks of the Detroit Red Wings prospect pipeline.
Finnie didn’t truly show his skill until after his draft year in the OHL. However, he has a lot of the tools the Red Wings want from their players. His motor is always running, he’s incredibly smart, and he makes himself involved as much as he can. It reminded McLellan of another player he coached relatively recently.
“We talked about Alex Laferriere, we had him in Los Angeles … it was kind of the same thing. Every day he kept coming, and we just kept on going, and pretty soon it was Christmas and he was still there,” the Red Wings coach said, via Bultman. “Now I’m not saying Emmitt is that player. But that’s how it happens sometimes, for some. And he’s on the right track.”
Laferriere, 23, came into the NHL under McLellan’s auspices. He played 81 games during the 2023-24 season, which saw the Los Angeles Kings fire McLellan midway through. This past season saw him score 19 goals and 42 points for Los Angeles, becoming a valuable middle-six contributor.
Red Wings, Fans Must Keep Perspective
Whether Finnie reaches that sort of production in the NHL is up for debate. As McLellan said, the comparison is not the type of player, but rather the manner in which they may reach the NHL.
It’s certainly undeniable that the Red Wings like Finnie’s game. A quick search of his name on social media shows fans are well behind him, as well. At the same time, this is only one preseason game. It’s still early to anoint the 20-year-old as the next big thing.
In saying this, Finnie will certainly get other chances to shine. If he can stack these performances, we may see the discussion turn from early preseason hype to something more concrete. Either way, fans will definitely want to keep an eye on the former seventh-round pick as the preseason progresses.
Rising Red Wings Prospect Making Strong Case For Roster Spot