Emmitt Finnie - Kamloops Blazers, WHL (2023, 201st, DET)

[neelynugs]

thoughts on finnie from anyone who's watched him lately? saw a few clips, but mostly stat watching. strong finish to the season,
having a good postseason, has the memorial cup ahead. possible sleeper with a good amount of growth ahead?

 

[MMC]

Welcome to Detroit

 

[Bubbles]

Talk about a late-bloomer! He wasn't having a very good D+1 season but has exploded. He has a 10 game point streak, and just got 4 goals tonight.

 

[newfy]

Talk about a late-bloomer! He wasn't having a very good D+1 season but has exploded. He has a 10 game point streak, and just got 4 goals tonight.

I'm not going to get excited about a draft+1 7th rounder yet by any means but it does make you wonder if this is a guy who could be a late bloomer with time missing from covid and everything.

 

[Bubbles]

I'm not going to get excited about a draft+1 7th rounder yet by any means but it does make you wonder if this is a guy who could be a late bloomer with time missing from covid and everything.

Kid wasn't even ranked in 2023 (If someone can verify, that would be nice). I guess he impressed at the Memorial Cup.

He's the hottest player in the WHL right now. And you're playing with house money with a 7th rounder.

 

[neelynugs]

Kid wasn't even ranked in 2023 (If someone can verify, that would be nice).

not ranked.

https://media.nhl.com/public/news/16970

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

11-12-23 Pts in his last 11 games.

Team is 7-5-0-0 in that time as well.

 

[Henkka]

All that crazy scoring did start, when he was converted to wing.

23 points at 34 games (and -23) as a Center. (0.676 points per game)
22 points at last 11 games (and +5) as a Winger (2.000 points per game)

 

[Bubbles]

 

[newfy]

There hasnt really been any discussion about this kid, but hes exceeding where he was drafted big time. Signed really early for his draft year, and accoring to some announcers in the WHL, is on Canadas radar for the WJC despite how stacked the team is.

8th in points, 7th in goals in the WHL, great defensively and one of the best face off guys in the WHL. I'm curious what WHL/Kamloops fans think of his game this year

 

[Eegs]

There hasnt really been any discussion about this kid, but hes exceeding where he was drafted big time. Signed really early for his draft year, and accoring to some announcers in the WHL, is on Canadas radar for the WJC despite how stacked the team is.

8th in points, 7th in goals in the WHL, great defensively and one of the best face off guys in the WHL. I'm curious what WHL/Kamloops fans think of his game this year

He's easily Kamloops best forward at both ends of the ice this season. Always on the move I love his motor and relentlessness.

He doesn't seem to have to many standout skills, other than maybe his skating, but plays a pretty 'pro' game already.

Trending like a steal for a 7th round pick.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

He's easily Kamloops best forward at both ends of the ice this season. Always on the move I love his motor and relentlessness.

He doesn't seem to have to many standout skills, other than maybe his skating, but plays a pretty 'pro' game already.

Trending like a steal for a 7th round pick.

So he's essentially another potential Luke Glendening?

... Couldn't complain about that at all, with a 7th.

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

He played with Stankoven, Minten etc. Lots of phonomenal examples.

 

[Petes2424]

So he's essentially another potential Luke Glendening?

... Couldn't complain about that at all, with a 7th.

To be fair to Finnie, Glendening’s hands would never be confused with most NHL players. Lol.

Finnie is a great example of pure scouting. Playing 4th line minutes his draft year because of how stacked that Memorial Cup team was, and only being 17 still… He had a run of games playing in the Top 6 when someone was hurt about mid-season in 23’, and that’s when DET started paying close attention. He stepped right in with those skilled, drafted players, and performed. Most teams finally took notice during his playoff streak, when most draft lists were already deep into being decided.

He was an absolute victim of circumstance and system. He also had the big growth spurt many thought might not come. He was only 5’3” when drafted in the WHL. Many teams simply didn’t pay attention to him.

If he was a couple months younger, after what he did last year, there’s a very good chance he would’ve ended up a late 1st Rounder in 2024.. Definitely a Top 50 pick.

It’s very rare to see a 7th Round pick signed only months after being drafted. I can’t think of one in recent memory.

Between Finnie (7th) and Lombardi (4th), it shows how deep Detroit is scouting kids. Well into Midget Minor and Bantam levels. Both Finnie and Lombardi were unique situations, and would be a good bet in 5-6 years, to end up being the steal of their respective draft class. Lombardi’s story is just not seen these days, with the available prospect information in scouting circles. What he’s done after turning 18 years old, and never playing major junior up to that point, isn’t seen very often. We’ll see how the TriFecta goes with Ondrej Becher (3rd Rd), but to be fair, he’s more of your normal re-entry type of draft pick from the 2024 draft.

Detroit has some sneaky skilled players they took later in drafts. Not to mention Buchelnikov, among the leading scorers in the KHL at 21.