‘I have goals for myself, and I’m looking to hit those’: Finnie expects more from himself in 2026-27

DETROIT -- It’s been nearly one year since Emmitt Finnie earned a spot on the Detroit Red Wings' Opening Night roster out of Training Camp and made his NHL debut — the first former seventh-round Draft pick to do so with the Winged Wheel since Henrik Zetterberg in 2002-03.

Now, having gained invaluable experience since Oct. 9, 2025, the 21-year-old forward eagerly heads into the 2026-27 season feeling confident in himself and highly motivated to prove there’s much more to come.

“I feel like you learn a lot in that first year,” Finnie said. “I definitely learned a lot about myself and my game. I’m looking forward to this season.”

Named the 2025-26 Red Wings Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Media (DSM) this summer, Finnie appeared in all 82 games and recorded 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) last season. A determined mindset helped Finnie make the most of his opportunities early on, leading to top-line minutes and trust from Detroit’s coaching staff and his teammates alike.

“It was just wanting more,” Finnie said. “I had a good start to the season, but I didn’t want to feel satisfied. I wanted to stay on this team for the full season, so I feel like I made that a focus point for myself. I just wanted to do everything I could to stick and make an impact.”

One of the biggest lessons Finnie took with him into the offseason was how to handle the grind of a full NHL campaign. 

“I’ve played 68 games in junior before, but never 82 games, a full season, like that,” Finnie said. “Just learning how to take care of my body and what to do to prepare myself best for each game. This summer, I just felt like I needed to get stronger so I can maintain my body for now what’s going to be an 84-game season.”

The Lethbridge, Alta., native worked extensively throughout the summer to improve his conditioning and add to his frame. He currently stands at 6-foot-2, 196 pounds, up from his listing of 190 pounds at this time last fall.

All that progress came during an offseason, Finnie acknowledged, with little downtime.

“A little break for the first three weeks (of summer), then I was at Worlds,” Finnie said. “After that, there was really no break. I was working out in the mornings and skating right after. Two skates a day sometimes, just trying to get my body in good shape. With fewer preseason games and the shorter Training Camp this year, I really had to focus on my cardio and getting prepared for all that this season.”

That drive to succeed at the sport’s highest possible level extends beyond the physical work Finnie puts in when no one is watching. Because he knows nothing is guaranteed, Finnie constantly evaluates himself and sets goals to sharpen the details of his game.

“Besides the obvious statistics, the little things are important to me, like hits, face-off percentage, blocked shots, plus-minus — all that stuff I want to improve on,” Finnie said. “I have goals for myself, and I’m looking to hit those.”

That kind of commitment is something the Red Wings need not only from Finnie but from every player who takes the ice for them this season.

"He finished his checks and was competitive with his speed,” Detroit head coach Todd McLellan said of Finnie. “We want that and more from him this year. I see him more confident, stronger and feeling good about his game."