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Detroit — Emmitt Finnie wasn't expected to make the Red Wings' opening-night roster, much less play every game and establish himself as a part of the Wings' future going forward.
It was a totally unexpected development. A late-round draft pick quickly impressing coach Todd McLellan and his staff, and running with an opportunity.
Give credit to Finnie, a 2023 seventh-round draft pick — the 201st player picked in that Entry Draft — who was one of the Wings' pleasant surprises, and Thursday was named the Wings' Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Media.
Finnie, 20, played in all 82 games and finished with 13 goals (sixth on the Wings), 17 assists (tied for seventh), and 30 points (eighth). Finnie's 131 credited hits were third on the Wings.
Finnie became the third player chosen by the Wings in the seventh round or later to record at least 30 points in his rookie season, joining Henrik Zetterberg (44 points) in 2002-03 and Vladimir Konstantinov (34) in 1991-92.
"I was just coming in and trying to play as hard as I can and see how far that took me into the preseason and start of the season," Finnie said late in the season. "I don't know if I necessarily expected myself to be in the position I'm in, but I came in with a nothing-to-lose mentality, and it worked out for me."
For a young player like Finnie, this past season's Olympic break in February provided an opportunity for rest and gave Finnie an opportunity to close out the season.
"He was able to stay healthy, and there was a time during the year you could see a little fatigue set in," McLellan said. "The Olympic break works for or against players, and for Emmitt it worked because he was able to rest a little bit and recharge his battery.
"(Finnie had) a real good year for us."
Finnie represented Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF world championship, earning two points (one goal and one assist) and a plus-one rating in six games.
The DSM Red Wings Rookie of the Year Award dates to the 1948-49 NHL season. Previous recipients of the award include Hockey Hall of Fame forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Marcel Dionne, and four Calder Memorial Trophy winners (NHL rookie of the year): Moritz Seider, Roger Crozier, Glenn Hall and Terry Sawchuk
[email protected]
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Emmitt Finnie named Red Wings Rookie of the Year by Detroit Sports Media
Continue reading...
It was a totally unexpected development. A late-round draft pick quickly impressing coach Todd McLellan and his staff, and running with an opportunity.
Give credit to Finnie, a 2023 seventh-round draft pick — the 201st player picked in that Entry Draft — who was one of the Wings' pleasant surprises, and Thursday was named the Wings' Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Media.
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Finnie, 20, played in all 82 games and finished with 13 goals (sixth on the Wings), 17 assists (tied for seventh), and 30 points (eighth). Finnie's 131 credited hits were third on the Wings.
Finnie became the third player chosen by the Wings in the seventh round or later to record at least 30 points in his rookie season, joining Henrik Zetterberg (44 points) in 2002-03 and Vladimir Konstantinov (34) in 1991-92.
"I was just coming in and trying to play as hard as I can and see how far that took me into the preseason and start of the season," Finnie said late in the season. "I don't know if I necessarily expected myself to be in the position I'm in, but I came in with a nothing-to-lose mentality, and it worked out for me."
For a young player like Finnie, this past season's Olympic break in February provided an opportunity for rest and gave Finnie an opportunity to close out the season.
"He was able to stay healthy, and there was a time during the year you could see a little fatigue set in," McLellan said. "The Olympic break works for or against players, and for Emmitt it worked because he was able to rest a little bit and recharge his battery.
"(Finnie had) a real good year for us."
Finnie represented Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF world championship, earning two points (one goal and one assist) and a plus-one rating in six games.
The DSM Red Wings Rookie of the Year Award dates to the 1948-49 NHL season. Previous recipients of the award include Hockey Hall of Fame forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Marcel Dionne, and four Calder Memorial Trophy winners (NHL rookie of the year): Moritz Seider, Roger Crozier, Glenn Hall and Terry Sawchuk
[email protected]
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Emmitt Finnie named Red Wings Rookie of the Year by Detroit Sports Media
Continue reading...
