Detroit Red Wings acquire their new top prospect in Nashville: A steal by Steve Yzerman
Photo credit: NHL.com
A Detroit Red Wings seventh-round pick is quickly becoming one of the top prospects of the organization with an impressive training camp so far.
The Red Wings acquired this prospect in Nashville at the 2023 NHL draft, in the seventh round, making him one of Yzerman's best steals in recent years.
The Detroit Red Wings preseason started last night against the Chicago Blackhawks, and fans have many reasons to be excited about what they saw.
Despite playing without their top players, the team dominated on the ice against the Hawks, who sent out many of their best prospects for the game.
A Wings prospect once again had a good game amid an impressive training camp.
Seventh-Round Pick Emmitt Finnie Is Becoming One of the Top Prospects in Detroit
Finnie had already impressed Wings coach Todd McLellan before facing the Hawks. He played well at the Red & White game, notably scoring the following goal:
Saturday, the coach opened up about the player's great camp so far:
"He's really grown on me. The pace of play, the detail that he has, the courage that he has to take pucks to the net. The tenacity that he plays with. I told the group (Saturday) that there's some players that have come here, and they're kind of riding the brake a little bit, maybe afraid to make mistakes, and then there's players that have come to make the team. And if you've been riding the brake a little bit, figure out who you are and let loose."
"You can't play conservative all the time. If you make mistakes, we'll help you. But if your biggest mistake is you're playing with your foot on the brake all the time, we can't help you with that. And I don't think Emmitt's been one that's been riding the brake. He's been full-on gas."
"You can't play conservative all the time. If you make mistakes, we'll help you. But if your biggest mistake is you're playing with your foot on the brake all the time, we can't help you with that. And I don't think Emmitt's been one that's been riding the brake. He's been full-on gas."
Then, against the Blackhawks, Finnie once again had a great night, scoring a goal and an assist:
After the game, McLellan doubled down on Finnie, eventually saying that if he keeps playing like that, he could force the organization's hand. He even compared him to Alex Laferriere in Los Angeles:
"Emmitt's a worker, he's a tenacious player, he's a good skater so far, but he (also) gets things done. Something happens when he's out there. And so far, so good."
"If he just keeps doing these things, the days will keep ticking on, and we'll eventually have to make decisions. 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. 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."
"If he just keeps doing these things, the days will keep ticking on, and we'll eventually have to make decisions. 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. 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."
Finnie, 20, scored five points in 10 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins last season, following an impressive 84-point tally in 55 games with the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL.
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