Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis discusses 10 NHL prospects who are impressing in the WHL this season, and Kamloops Blazers captain Emmitt Finnie makes Ellis’ list:
Emmitt Finnie, C (Detroit Red Wings)
Team: Kamloops Blazers
The Red Wings built a reputation in the 90s and early 00s for finding talent in the later rounds of the NHL Draft. Is Finnie – a seventh-rounder in 2023 – next on the list? The 6-foot-1 forward had a solid 59-point season a year ago, but he’s on pace for just under 100 in his fourth season with Kamloops. When he was drafted, he was more of a depth player who just got lost in the shuffle. Now, he’s an energetic forward who has dominated Kamloops’ scoring race and he rarely makes a bad mistake while in a battle. Many scouts think his scoring won’t translate to the NHL – he’s not overly deceptive or anything – but he’s got the work ethic you’d want from someone who can be a nice depth producer, and that’s great from a player taken 201st overall.
Continued; I don’t know whether Finnie’s going to be an NHL scorer, or more of a middle-of-the-lineup player, but the young man’s speed and work ethic are particularly impressive.
He’s dominated on a middling Kamloops team, and there is at least potential there for a second-line player who can “blaze” up the middle of the ice at full speed, even when he has the puck on his stick. He just doesn’t slow down for any thing or any one.
