The Red Wings drafted Emmitt Finnie out of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers because, in 2023, the 6,’ 170-pound center looked like a promising and plucky speedster, albeit of average size. So they selected him 201st overall, and he’s looking like a real “sleeper” pick.
Finnie grew in production from 35 points in 64 games in 22-23 to 19 goals and 40 assists for 59 points in 62 games in 23-24, and he grew an inch to 6’1″ and added 13 pounds to his 183-lb frame.
Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff profiled the “most intriguing sleeper prospect” on Sunday morning, and he noted that Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan Cleary loves what Finnie brings to the mix…
The seventh round of the draft is when teams roll the dice, take a shot on a player they hope could ultimately develop into something. It isn’t supposed to happen as fast as it’s happening with Finnie, however.
“He’s looked good,” Cleary said. “For me, when you go watch him play, say you go in October and you’re back again in December, it feels like he just grew each time you meet him. He started getting bigger, his chest fills out. When he was in Grand Rapids for the games he played, he didn’t look out of place at all because he’s smart, he knows where to be positionally. All it’s going to take is a little more experience, a little more maturity but he’s a nice player. I really like Emmitt.”
The one thing the Red Wings want Finnie to add isn’t height or weight any more–it’s “swagger”:
“When I talk to him, he’s really quiet,” Cleary said. “He’s a really good strong player but I’d like him to have a little more swagger to himself. We keep trying to instill that confidence in him. He believes he’s a good player. Once they start to believe it, they’ll start to show it more on the ice.”
Continued; sometimes players like Finnie and Kevin Bicker pan out; sometimes they don’t. But it’s always a bonus when they do.
