Todd McLellan hints at exciting prospect making Detroit Red Wings' opening night lineup
Photo credit: NHL.com
Prospect Emmitt Finnie was originally a 7th-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings and has spent only 10 games in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, but Todd McLellan is convinced of his capabilities.
The Detroit Red Wings selected forward Emmitt Finnie 201st overall in the 7th round of the 2023 NHL draft.
His minor-league career has just begun, as he's played 13 games total in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, after spending the majority of the last two years in the juniors with the WHL's Kamloops Blazers.
But, according to Red Wings coach Todd McLellan, he's an underdog who could steal a spot in the lineup, as he's won the coach's eye with how hard he plays.
The stories about Finnie are true, says McLellan.
«I'd heard about Emmitt and his game, but he's really grown on me,» McLellan said on the club's website. «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.
«So he's in one spot, then he's getting to the next with some meaning.»
«So he's in one spot, then he's getting to the next with some meaning.»
Could the Former 7th-Round Pick Emmitt Finnie Make the Red Wings Roster?
Could this be a sign that the former 7th-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings could steal a spot in the lineup from another prospect this season?
The Red Wings could use some depth down the middle, and a player like Finnie, who played alongside Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin with ease, suggests he could be the right choice.
His effort has been noticeable on the ice, as the former Blazer has shown a level of determination and competitive edge McLellan likes to see in his players.
In one of his closing statements to the team, the Red Wings coach made a very pointed comment towards Finnie:
«And I don't think Emmett's been one that's been riding the brake. He's been full on the gas.»
If Finnie can continue to keep up what he's doing, he could find himself wearing a Red Wings jersey instead of the Griffins in 2025-26.
Last season, in 55 games with the Kamloops Blazers, he scored 37-47-84 in 55 games in the WHL.
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