Detroit Red Wings Secure Promising Talent Emmitt Finnie with a Three-Year Contract
In a strategic move to bolster their roster, the Detroit Red Wings have officially welcomed center Emmitt Finnie aboard with a three-year, entry-level contract set to commence in the 2024-25 season. For the remainder of the 2023-24 season, Finnie will showcase his skills with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the American Hockey League on an amateur tryout basis.
At just 18 years old, Finnie has already made significant waves in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Kamloops Blazers during the 2023-24 season. His impressive tally includes 19 goals, tying for second place on his team, and leading with 40 assists and 59 points. Additionally, his contributions include 28 penalty minutes, three power-play goals, 20 power-play points, four shorthanded goals, and 164 shots, showcasing his versatility and prowess on the ice. His remarkable performance earned him the WHL Player of the Week title for the week ending February 11, following a spree of nine points in just three games.
Finnie’s journey with the Kamloops Blazers began in the 2022-23 season, where he accumulated 35 points, a plus-11 rating, and 12 penalty minutes across 64 regular-season games, alongside seven points in 14 postseason appearances. His participation in the 2023 Memorial Cup, hosted by Kamloops, further highlighted his growing influence in the game.
Drafted 201st overall by the Red Wings in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Finnie’s early career with Kamloops in the 2021-22 season laid a solid foundation, with six assists and a plus-three rating over 48 games. His WHL career totals boast an impressive 100 points and 42 penalty minutes across 174 games. Before his WHL success, Finnie honed his skills at Yale Hockey Academy in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League from 2018-21, amassing 107 points in 60 games at the under-15 level.
Emmitt Finnie, with his birthdate on June 27, 2005, hails from Lethbridge, Alberta. Standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 178 pounds, Finnie shoots left and brings a combination of skill, agility, and strategic play to the ice. His selection by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft marks the beginning of what promises to be an exciting and impactful career.