Everyone loves an underdog story. Perhaps no other player in the NHL last season had a better one than Emmitt Finnie. The former seventh round pick, selected 201st overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, had a surprising audition with the Red Wings, earning a spot on the opening night roster.
Finnie went on to play all 82 games for the Red Wings, scoring 13 goals and 30 points in the process. Next season, the Detroit Media Rookie of the Year winner will resume his place on the top-six, likely flanking either Lucas Raymond or newcomer Viktor Arvidsson.
With his first full NHL season under his belt - and a roster replete with opportunity - it's entirely possible that Finnie has a breakout season, smashing the 30 point threshold.
How Finnie can avoid the sophomore slump
The toughest challenge Finnie faces next season is the dreaded sophomore slump. Dylan Larkin dealt with it. Lucas Raymond had a rough go of his. Marco Kasper just capped off an especially brutal second year.
The sophomore season is both a blessing and a curse. Now that opposing teams have footage on Finnie, they'll know how to counter him and his shortcomings. This, in turn, will force Finnie into a corner and will likely make his experiences on the ice more frustrating. That said, it's also a massive opportunity for the forward to adapt and find new ways to innovate his game.
If he can find a way to learn from his mistakes, he'll be a much better player for it. That said, don't expect him to come out of the gate swinging right off the bat. It may take him a few games to adapt to the adjusted strategies of opposing teams.
How Finnie can find success next season
One of the biggest knocks to Finnie's game last season was how easily he was outmuscled. At 20 years of age, Finnie had yet to grow into his frame. Now that he's had an offseason to train, he'll come into the 2026-27 season much stronger than before. With renewed ferocity, he can fight back when a tough player tries to bully him off the puck.
In addition, he'll have more than enough opportunity to establish himself as a consistent member of the top-six. Current projections have Finnie topping out around a middle-six role, playing support up and down the lineup. (Think Darren Helm but with more offensive upside.)
Daily Faceoff's projected opening night lineup has Finnie stapled to the top line alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. While a lot can change between now and then (especially with one elephant in the room), it's safe to assume that Finnie will continue his role on the team's top-six for the time being.
If things go according to plan, it's not impossible to see Finnie finish off next season with 15 goals and 45-50 points.
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