Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted an article in which he discusses the Red Wings’ late-round picks in this past June’s 2025 NHL Draft, offering an example as to how the Wings try to “mine” the later rounds for NHL talent:
Two years ago, the Red Wings drafted Kamloops Blazers left wing Emmitt Finnie in the seventh round, 201st overall. The youngster showed nine goals in his first 112 Western Hockey League games. But scouts spotted ability just below the surface. Over his next 59 WHL games, he put up 62 points. Finnie scored 37 goals for the Blazers last season and didn’t look out of place playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins late in the season.
How about Brent Solomon (drafted 109th), a Minnesotan who played high school hockey and in the USHL last season. Solomon netted 38 goals in 28 games for Champlin Park High School. He had six more points playing eight games for Sioux Falls in the USHL.
“Natural goal scorer with obviously a very good release,” said Kris Draper, Detroit assistant GM and director of amateur scouting. “He played high school hockey in Minnesota, got an opportunity to play some hockey in the USHL. He’s going to play there next year as well. We just like the ability to score goals. He did it very well at the high school level. He got off to actually a really hot start, too in the USHL, which is something that you like to see someone going from Minnesota high school to jumping into the USHL and still being an offensive threat.”
Continued (paywall) with a discussion of Will Murphy’s pluses and a note about the Wings’ drafting of Carter Bear…
