As much as we like to talk about seventh round pick Emmitt Finnie being a flyer or free money, the Detroit Red Wings actually selected him early -- at least comparatively speaking.
At 201st overall, Finnie was selected nine slots sooner than franchise legend Henrik Zetterberg. While we could just note that both players were drafted in the seventh round and call it a day, it’s just the start of an interesting comparison.
Before diving into the rabbit hole, it must be said that Finnie is not Zetterberg. Red Wings fans shouldn’t expect a new version of a legendary player. In his own right, Finnie is a having a great start to his NHL career.
Comparing Emmitt Finnie to the great Henrik Zetterberg
As Finnie spreads his wings in Detroit, he’s doing something that hasn’t appeared in the Motor City for a very long time. In place of uncertainty, there’s confidence. Anxiety? Jitters? A foreign concept to someone who, by all accounts, has no business being this mature and assured of himself -- especially, this early into his NHL career.
There’s no cockiness or arrogance exuding from Finnie. We might throw colorful words in between or give him silly nicknames (my favorite is Finnmeister, but most fans seem to gravitate toward the Finn Dog.)
It’s the same Finnie who still drove his first car, a 2012 Hyundai Tucson, last season. It’s a car that was passed down from his parents (who knows, maybe he still drives it). The Uber driver to the young rookie trio of Red Wings, Finnie became a shepherd on the ice for young and old players alike.
Finnie finds a way, more often than not, to be effective on his shifts. There’s no particular flash or attempt to be something he’s not. He knows himself and his limits as well as any veteran player. It’s impressive to watch someone so young and only in his second pro-season (at the highest level of hockey in the world mind you) find so much success.
Finnie just being Finnie is more than enough.
How Finine compares to Zetterberg
Watching Finnie go toe-to-toe with the most talented player in the NHL in just his second season with the Red Wings as the team's top line center, the seventh-rounder is turning heads for all the right reasons.
While different in many ways, it’s very reminiscent of Zetterberg’s play.
Finnie’s not an elite player (yet) but he’s shaping up to be a real good hockey player that possess similar traits to Zetterberg.
Zetterberg was a fearless competitor who was prepared to run through any wall in front of him. He knew his game and limits, he didn’t try to be cute or be someone he’s not.
His puck protection, underrated skilled plays and fantastic two-way play were the best kept secrets in Hockeytown.
While the glitz and glam followed the dazzling play of his Euro Twin counterpart, Pavel Datsyuk (as it should), Zetterberg seemed content to be in the background.
While quite different, it’s fun to look at the former Wings’ captain and Finnie.
According to their Elite Prospects pages, Finnie is 6’2”, while Zetterberg is 6’ even. Of course, Finnie was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, while Zetterberg was born in Sundsvall, Sweden.
Oddly enough, both weigh (or weighed) 196 lbs.
Before joining the Grand Rapids Griffins for this playoff runs in 2023-24 and 2024-25, Finnie played in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Kamloops Blazers. He didn’t play in world tournaments until this most recent offseason at the Men’s International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) where he joined the likes of Macklin Celebrini and Sidney Crosby. For a first time at an international tournament, it’s not a bad gig.
Not a bad gig.
Zetterberg's path similar to Finnie's
Even dating back to his junior career, Zetterberg was invited to international tournaments as far back as 1996-97 (the furtherest record for Elite Prospects) for the under 17 players.
Three season after being drafted, without any time in the American Hockey League (AHL), Zetterberg jumped right into the NHL. Meanwhile, Finnie spent just two years developing outside of the NHL with quick pitstops in Grand Rapids (three games in 2023-24 and 13 games in 2024-25). Those 16 games were the only taste Finnie had before joining the Wings.
Last season, Finnie played in all 82 games, scoring 13 goals and 17 assists for a total of 30 points -- not a bad stat line for a guy who wasn’t supposed to make the NHL, let alone that quickly. He finished the season with only six penalty minutes (even more impressive considering the tough game he plays and the hard areas of the ice he goes to, and board battles he enters into) with a -10 rating. In his first international tournament, Finnie played in six games scored a goal and recorded an assist for two points. No penalty minutes were assessed and had a +1 rating.
So far this season, in 13 games Finnie has scored five times and assisted on four goals. He’s recorded two penalty minutes and is a +10. Finnie was especially impressive when he and his line partner Alex DeBrincat had Michael Brandsegg-Nygård added to their line. Brandsegg-Nygård and Finnie seem to have chemistry that other linemates haven’t been able to replicate.
For fun purposes only, in his first season in Detroit, the 2002-03 season Zetterberg played in 79 games where his goals and assists mirrored each other with 22 a piece for a total of 44 points. He recorded eight penalty minutes with a +6 rating. In the playoffs, Zetterberg played in four games and scored once with a -4 rating.
As for his second year in Detroit, Zetterberg played in 61 games where he scored 15 times and assisted on 28 goals for a total of 43 points. He had 14 penalty minutes and was a +15 rating. In the playoffs, Zetterberg played in 12 games with two goals and two assists for a total of four points with four penalty minutes, along with an even plus/minus.
It’s understandable, especially with the development path and opportunities each player had, that Finnie might have a bit slower start (in terms of offensive output). It’s also comparing a second-year NHL player to one of the greatest two-way forwards in the history of the NHL, so it’s not fair to Finnie.
Even still, it’s fun to see how Finnie is evolving as a player and how it mirrors other players—particularly a fan favorite like Zetterberg.
Once Finnie gets even more comfortable playing center and is more established (in his role both on and off the ice), it’s telling where Finnie’s career will lead. No matter where, it seems Detroit Red Wings fans will be entertained for years to come.
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