"Can't Say Enough Good Things": Emmitt Finnie Has Earned Red Wings' Trust With Hot Start
Detroit Red Wings forward Emmitt Finnie is currently tied for second overall in NHL rookie scoring, and the impact he's made isn't lost on his teammates and coaches.
The Detroit Red Wings' centennial campaign began not only with the anticipation of a historic year-long celebration, but also with excitement over the news that a trio of rookies had made the final roster cut and would be getting their feet wet at the NHL level.
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Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (15th overall, 2024), Axel Sandin-Pellikka (17th overall, 2023), and Emmitt Finnie (201st overall, 2023) all were included on Detroit's roster for their Opening Night matchup against the Montreal Canadiens thanks to their impressive showings in Training Camp and the pre-season.
While the bulk of the attention may have been on both Sandin-Pellikka and Brandsegg-Nygård given their early selections by GM Steve Yzerman, the player who has especially grabbed the attention of not only the Red Wings but the rest of the hockey world is Finnie.
It is rare for a seventh-round draft pick to be tied for second in NHL rookie scoring, but no challenge has been too steep for Finnie to overcome so far.
Through his first nine games, he has scored four goals and added four assists, and he is currently riding a four-game point streak. His most recent goal came as part of the Red Wings' historic 6-4 comeback win over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, a game in which Detroit initially trailed 4-0.
Finnie sits just one point behind Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov, who has appeared in 10 games compared to Finnie’s nine, for the NHL rookie scoring lead.
The 20 year-old native of Lethbridge, Alberta has officially put the rest of the NHL on notice with his incredible start to his career, and the impact that he's had on their 6-3 start to the season isn't lost on his teammates.
"It's a big impact, we've talked about him a lot," said Dylan Larkin on Monday. "I can't say enough good things about him as a person and player. I think he's also learning that people are going to be watching out for him, but that he has to continue to drive and push and prove it every night."
"He's done everything so far, I don't see why he couldn't continue to keep going."
Following Detroit's victory on Saturday, head coach Todd McLellan said that he didn't want to put any unrealistic expectations on Finnie during Training Camp but that he's earned the trust of himself and the rest of the coaching staff.
“Our thoughts were fairly realistic, we were going to play him, let’s see what ends up happening," McLellan said. "We obviously believed in him. We certainly did, but he continues to just push the envelope. We can talk about his points, goals and all that stuff. The blocked shots [in Saturday’s game], the checking skills and abilities that he plays with."
"There’s nothing better that a player can have than to be trusted by the coaches and teammates. He has that right now.”
Not only does Finnie have the trust of his teammates and coaches, he is now forcing Detroit’s opponents to account for him in their game plans to try to minimize his impact.
Finnie's hot start is reminiscent of the immediate impacts that both Moritz Seider, who became the first Red Wings player since Roger Crozier in 1965 to take home the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie, and Lucas Raymond had four years ago.
Both players are foundational cornerstones for the Red Wings, and if Finnie continues developing on a similar trajectory, he could eventually earn that same distinction.
Tyler Lockett Breaks Silence After Signing With Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are returning from their bye week with a familiar face for Geno Smith. The veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who Smith knows well from their days with the Seattle Seahawks, joined the team on October 27.
Lockett began the 2025 NFL season with the Tennessee Titans but requested and was granted his release from the team on October 20. The 33-year-old wide receiver had spent the previous decade of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, playing in Seattle from 2015 through 2024.
During his time with the Seahawks, Lockett hauled in 661 catches for 8,594 yards and 61 touchdowns over 168 games. However, his move to the Titans was underwhelming, as he managed just 10 receptions for 70 yards and no touchdowns across seven games.
After signing with the Raiders, Lockett spoke with reporters about his decision to join the Silver and Black.
“I think it was just conversations with my agent, and, obviously, once I was able to get released and the time went by on waivers, I was able to kind of talk to [Raiders head coach Pete Carroll], and I think it was pretty cool just to have a chance to come back,” Lockett told reporters on October 27.
“I played with Pete for nine years, so I understand his system, I understand what he’s trying to bring to the culture, and I’m just thankful that I got another chance to be able to play for him.”
Raiders QB Geno Smith Has Chemistry with Tyler Lockett
Lockett also talked about the chemistry that he has with Smith. Moreover, he mentions that even though they haven’t played together in a while, their connection is good
“We grew so much just being able to play,” Lockett added. “We went through different coordinators, learned different systems, understood how to adjust our game, but still being able to
“And it’s cool not being able to have to go somewhere else where you don’t always have to try to figure out how to play with somebody in the middle of the season. It’s like we already have that chemistry, and so we can continue to go from there.”
Raiders Need Tyler Lockett to Help Struggling Offense
Las Vegas could use every bit of help on offense after failing to score in its Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I mean, you know how bad you have to be to not score a single point in the NFL,” Kelce told his young brother and Chiefs star Travis Kelce
“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a team have 30 first downs in a game; I mean, that’s in in itself [and] held the Raiders to under 100 yards total; I mean, I’ve had some really bad offensive games. It is miserable to be a part of those. This is right up there with them.”
