The Hockey News’s Michael Whitaker spoke with Red Wings forward Emmitt Finnie about his imminent NHL debut:
It doesn’t seem like long ago that established Red WIngs players like Larkin, Raymond, and Moritz Seider were once rookies themselves, and Finnie has leaned on their support and picked their brains on what he himself can expect as he hits the ice for the first time in regular season play.
“I’ve talked to a couple of guys about their first games and how to kind of get into it and relax then nerves, and they tell just keep telling me to play my game and the nerves will settle in off the start,” Finnie said. “Just be super confident out there and play my game.”
Just like his rookie teammates Brandsegg-Nygård and Sandin-Pellikka, Finnie is going to have a large presence of relatives in the stands to watch his inaugural game.
“I’ve got my mom and dad, brother, sister, my girlfriend, aunt, uncle, and his wife,” he said of who will be coming to support him. “Lots of family and friends.”
Finnie especially impressed with his play in Training Camp and the pre-season, during which he skated in seven of eight games and was used in all situations by head coach Todd McLellan. Not only does he possess tremendous speed, he’s also shown that he’s unafraid to go into the tough areas of the ice – not something that your average 20-year-old does with such enthusiasm.
“I think I bring a high motor, I feel like a 200 foot player, and I have lots of speed so I can be all over the ice and impact the game in lots of ways,” Finnie said of his playing style.
Continued–a very good article!
