Confirmed with Link: The Red Wings have signed center Emmitt Finnie to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning with the 2024-25 season

[OldnotDeadWings]

What kind of chance he has to steal a spot in Team Canada at upcoming U20 Worlds?

Very unlikely. He was not among the 26 forwards invited to Hockey Canada's summer showcase for the WJC team, 13 of whom are first-round picks, a few more not yet drafted who will be next June. Double underager Gavin McKenna also wasn't at the camp but will probably make the team. It's a strong group at least on paper so there won't be many new names added for the final selection camp.

 

[SantosHalper]

Very unlikely. He was not among the 26 forwards invited to Hockey Canada's summer showcase for the WJC team, 13 of whom are first-round picks, a few more not yet drafted who will be next June. Double underager Gavin McKenna also wasn't at the camp but will probably make the team. It's a strong group at least on paper so there won't be many new names added for the final selection camp.

So it might take some injuries then. But are all those forwards suitable for shutdown/PK roles?

 

[OldnotDeadWings]

So it might take some injuries then. But are all those forwards suitable for shutdown/PK roles?

It's hard to say. Most of the first-rounders are offense first guys, as you'd expect. But not yet drafted guys like McKenna and Martone might be seen as fourth-liners rather than the team thinking of a checking fourth line. Finnie is a good two-way player with C/W versatility, so that's in his favour, but so are many of the non first-round players on the summer roster also good two-way guys. It's a powerhouse group so some good players won't make the team.

I think his low chances are more a case of HC being a stickler for the selection process and having a preference for returning players rather than guys who haven't been part of the process or on previous national teams.