Meet the Red Wings Canadian Hockey League-playing and alumni prospects

Today, the CHL’s website’s Matt Tidcombe offers a survey of the four Canadian Hockey League-playing and alumni players who’ve been drafted by the Red Wings over the course of the past two seasons.

You’re probably familiar with Portland Winterhawks and Brandon Wheat Kings alumnus Nate Danielson, who’s going to turn pro with the Griffins this upcoming season, but you may not be as familiar with the other three players listed in Tidcombe’s article:

Ondrej Becher (F) — Prince George Cougars
Acquired: 2024 NHL Draft (80th overall)
CHL career stats: 121G | 48G | 86A | 134PTS
Signed: No

Third time was the charm for Becher as he finally heard his name called at the NHL Draft after a breakout campaign with the Cougars. The Czech forward finished 13th in WHL scoring with 96 points in just 58 games while his 32 goals were the fourth among Prince George skaters. He won 51.9 per cent of his faceoffs while his four shorthanded goals were tied for fourth most in the WHL. His 1.66 point-per-game average was ninth best while he collected a bronze medal at the 2024 World Juniors. Becher, the 16th overall pick in the 2022 CHL Import Draft, tied for the Cougars postseason scoring lead with 19 points.

…

Emmitt Finnie (F) — Kamloops Blazers
Acquired: 2023 NHL Draft (201st overall)
CHL career stats: 174G | 28G | 72A | 100PTS
Signed: Yes

Finnie established career highs across the board in 2023-24 with 19 goals, 40 assists and 59 points as he led the Blazers in scoring. The 19-year-old won 55 per cent of his draws while he made his professional debut with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins as he appeared in three regular season contests.

Landon Miller (G) — Soo Greyhounds
2024 NHL Draft: 2024 NHL Draft (126th overall)
CHL career stats: 35GP | 17-7-0 | 3.15 GAA | .880 save percentage
Signed: No

Miller’s first season in the OHL saw him impress between the Greyhounds pipes as he collected 17 wins. He posted the first two shutouts of his career while in his lone postseason appearance, he collected the win in relief in a come-from-behind victory against Guelph. With Jakub Vondras (CAR) having signed in Europe, the Soo net should be Miller’s in 2024-25.

Continued; so:

1. Becher may or may not play in the WHL this upcoming season because he’s 20, and CHL teams can only play 3 “overagers.” It’s somewhat uncertain at this point as to whether the late-bloomer will remain with Prince George, whether he’s going to be traded to another WHL team, or whether he’ll end up in Toledo or Grand Rapids;
2. The Red Wings are really high on Finnie’s potential as a two-way forward (as Tidcombe notes, he’s already signed to an NHL contract), but even though he played in a couple of games for the Griffins, he’s headed back to Kamloops for the upcoming season;
3. And Miller’s save percentage was not sterling this past season, but the Red Wings took a flyer on him because they like his size and raw ability. He will be the Soo’s starter this year, and he’s going to have an opportunity to turn some heads as a result.