Todd McLellan blown away by one specific Detroit Red Wings prospect: Can he crack the NHL roster?
Photo credit: NHL.com
Todd McLellan surely didn't shy away from revealing who his favorite Detroit Red Wing is at the moment, and it's a young player who has yet to make his NHL debut.
When discussing his time coaching the Los Angeles Kings organization, Red Wings head coach reminsiced about a player who refused to go away.
That was forward Alex Laferriere.
«Alex Laferriere, we had him in Los Angeles,» McLellan said. «It was kind of the same thing.
«He just kept coming every day, and we just kept on going. Pretty soon, it was Christmas, and he was still there."
- Todd McLellan
«He just kept coming every day, and we just kept on going. Pretty soon, it was Christmas, and he was still there."
- Todd McLellan
Now, that forward who just can't keep getting out of McLellan's head is Emmitt Finnie, who McLellan has hyped up before.
Emmitt Finnie's odds at making Red Wings roster greatly increase
«Now, I'm not saying Emmitt is that player, but that's how it happens sometimes for some. And you know, he's on the right track.»
After Detroit's 3-2 win against the Blackhawks in their first preseason game of the year, Finnie gained hundreds, if not thousands, of new fans.
One of those fans included Red Wings beat writer Ryan Hana.
"I've seen enough. Ordering 10 Emmitt Finnie jerseys immediately."
- Ryan Hana
- Ryan Hana
Todd McLellan didn't end his comments on Finnie until he made it a point that his opportunity to make the NHL roster is very near:
«He always sounded like a type of player a coach would appreciate, a worker,» McLellan said, «I see that in him. But there's more there. There's the playmaker, there's the skating part.
«Coaches can fall in love with workers, but they have to get something. They have to produce, too. Emmitt's a worker. He's a tenacious player. He's a good skater, but he gets things done. Something happens when he's out there. And so far so good.
«If he just keeps doing these things and doing these things, the days will keep ticking on, and we'll eventually have to make decisions.»
«Coaches can fall in love with workers, but they have to get something. They have to produce, too. Emmitt's a worker. He's a tenacious player. He's a good skater, but he gets things done. Something happens when he's out there. And so far so good.
«If he just keeps doing these things and doing these things, the days will keep ticking on, and we'll eventually have to make decisions.»
With such strong comments like this, don't be surprised if Finnie makes it through the next set of cuts, or even onto the Red Wings' opening night roster.
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