Emmitt Finnie, Todd McLellan Practice Media | Nov. 19, 2025

Emmitt Finnie, Todd McLellan Practice Media | Nov. 19, 2025

How good did that one feel to kind of get off the schneide after 10 games there? Yeah, it felt good. Um, you know, I felt like I was putting myself in good chances the the previous games before. So, um, you know, I was just trying to stay positive and, you know, keep shooting. Hey man, were you thinking about it at all? Just the point streak and all, not having a point for a while. I mean, yeah, I feel like it’s definitely on your mind a little bit. Um, you know, I try not to worry about it and I was just trying to play my game and, you know, keep doing good things and, you know, eventually it was going to come. How fun is it to play with Nate? I think he told he told us that he kind of told you you had to score that one after the offside. Yeah, it is. It’s fun to play with them. Um, you know, obviously he’s a great player and, you know, I feel like we read off each other pretty well. Um, so yeah, I feel like I I did owe him a little bit for going off sides, so um, you know, that was a good one. See, uh, Emit, 20 games now into your NHL career here. Uh, I know you’re never going to get too comfortable, but just how do you feel as far as the comfort levels certainly has to be increasing now quarter way through the season? Yeah, for sure. Um, you know, I feel like I’m pretty confident out there and, you know, the game’s starting to, you know, slow down for me and, you know, I feel like I’m able to make more plays. So, um, you know, the comfort level is definitely there. Seems like the last two wins have been team wins. What have you liked about the way this group has played over the last couple year? Yeah, it’s been great. Um, you know, I thought the game in New York was one of our best games, if not our best game all season. So, um, you know, that’s been a priority of us is, you know, been trying to play a full 60 minutes and I feel like we’ve done that the last two games. What have you learned about handling the grind just off the ice, uh, of playing so regularly? Yeah, it’s it’s been difficult so far. Um, you know, you play almost every other day. So, um, you know, you really got to take care of your body and, you know, um, I’ve been listening to the trainers and, you know, been trying to eat good so I can, you know, manage my body. And does it help having other guys in the same boat kind of like you kind of like first year and just going through the ropes for the first time like that? Yeah, I think so. Um, you know, it’s good to have some guys my own age. Um, you know, with Danny and Nate and even Marco. Those are, you know, guys I like to hang out with off the ice and, you know, some of my best buddies. So, um, you know, it’s been fun with them. Do you remember playing against Danny in like youth leagues or something? Yeah, I grew up playing against him pretty much from age like seven till I was like 12 or something. So, uh, definitely had some good battles with him growing up. When did you guys start building a relationship of becoming friends? Yeah. Um, you know, we played a little bit when we were younger and my brother played with them a little bit. So, um, I kind of knew him from that. And then, you know, when we both got drafted here, that kind of just like our relationship started to build from there. You talked about kind of the grind. A lot of guys will mention kind of having a B game of when they know they don’t have maybe their their best on a given. What are the things for you that kind of would define, you know, what you want to bring every night regardless if you have your best or not? Yeah, I feel like I want to, you know, get on the fork check. Um, you know, manage the puck. Um, you know, get hits, get shots, just, you know, try to buzz around on the ice and, you know, try to create little plays all over the game. Todd, a light practice out there today. Was that planned long ahead or kind of reaction to this? No, not a a reaction, but just looking back and ahead. Um, you know, we we have a science department that gives us numbers and and uh, you know, tracks gas tanks. We just played four and six with some travel. Um, we’re going to play five and eight and we’re going to play six and 10 and we’re going to have more travel and we know that we’re skating on Friday because we play a 1:00 game on Saturday. So, it’s all kind of laid out a week in advance and um, took advantage of what we could today. There were some guys that maybe their numbers were a little lower and the ones that were running higher didn’t skate. They did some work in the gym and we practiced off the ice today with some video and some direction that way. And what do you like about EMTT’s game even when he isn’t scoring? Um well, I use the I’ll use the same word as as I did for Danny last night. He’s pretty trusting player right now. Um his legs are his biggest asset. his ability to to close on on the opposition whether they have the puck or they don’t um is something that’s been a a real beneficial thing for our team and that energy is contagious. Um so he’s he’s brought that almost every night. He’s still learning that there’s you know there’s times during the game where you got to be really sharp whether it’s the beginning of the game or or near the end. Um, but he’s one of them that you you talk to once and it problem seems to go away. Um, so that’s a real good sign for a young player. Uh, Todd, you touched on this a little bit yesterday, but just the, uh, a quarter of the way through the season, just the, uh, have you seen this much parody in the league before? Uh, seems like I mean, I think last week you were out of a playoff spot, a few games later you’re in first place. It seems like there’s teams are much closer together than before. Yeah, I would, you know, I would agree. I you look at the standings and you’re, you know, if you’re on the top of the mountain, you’re really not on top of the mountain. You’re you’re um you’re in the middle of the forest. Like it’s so tight. Um you know, there may be a little changing of the guard. some of the powerhouses um maybe getting a little older, some of the the teams that were trying to to to climb that mountain might be catching up. Um yeah, so it it is really tight, but it’s only 20 games. That’s why when uh you know when you get into those last 10 or 12 games and you’re six or eight points in or out, um that’s a significant number to make up uh with three-point nights. Um, so you’ve got to you got to manage every segment and and get the best out of your team and we’re trying to do that or we’ll we’ll start a new 10ame uh tomorrow and it’s important that we take more points than we give away. We’ll be asking you next week, but are you big believer in the Thanksgiving uh theory, the the what Ken Holland theory about uh whoever? Um I I I have been in the past. I think the numbers, you know, stack up and and the percentages say, yeah, you know, there’s a lot to that, but it’s not 100% accurate and this year it’s probably going to get tested based on where we’re at. Have you How much have you seen of uh what’s tomorrow against the Islanders, the Schaefer kid? I mean, have you seen him? And and then segue into that, Todd, some of these kids like Celibbrini and Bedard, why are some of these kids so ready to play dominate in the NHL like the way they’re doing? Well, the Schaefer um the Schaefer player we saw once already and um you know, watched a lot of them in video and that type of stuff. You see him live. We’ll all see him tomorrow night. He’s pretty dynamic player. They’re they’re fortunate to have him as a club, but also a community to be able to watch him play night in and night out for for a lot of years. Um, as far as some of these younger players, it’s it’s that, you know, it was um it was Crosby and and Ovetkin and then it got passed on. I I’ll miss some generations, but obviously the the Leon McKinnon, um, McDavid, Matthews, Eel generation, and now we’re seeing this next one come through. And, um, it takes them a year or two to really establish themselves. Now, they are the go-to two players. They figured the NHL out. Um, and they’re that skilled and that talented. Um, they have I’ve always said this, they the young players have courage to do things and attempt things. Um, and they use that courage and become pretty dynamic. Um, I think many generations ago sometimes that was squashed and um, you know, you had to wait your turn almost. You let the veterans do their thing and then you had to wait your turn. And if you were still around and you still had those skills, then it started to come out. Uh but now it’s coming out much earlier. I know when you’re forming lines, especially midame, you’re just trying to win the game. But Finny and Danielson have have some history together playing against each other and play together. How much can you tell kind of their chemistry together? And can you see them complimenting each other? Well, um you know, when we when we put them together, um that wasn’t even considered. It wasn’t a thought. I didn’t know how much they played minor hockey together or against each other. Um I only knew or we only not I we um only knew what we saw here and uh we thought that they would compliment each other and and for one you know two periods in one night they did a real good job. We expect that to continue but um I I can’t see why they couldn’t play with each other. Both fairly smart players. Um you know one can not necessarily slow the game down. one plays real fast, the other plays a little bit more of a a mind game. Um, so I I I think they can complement and continue to play with each other and be successful. I know there’s kind of always an idea that you want to put young guys with veteran guys, but is there ever a world where two young guys that are at the same point in their career where that can be a benefit to having them together? Um, yeah. You’ve heard kid lines. Um I I think the Oilers would I don’t know if it was Adam Graves and Jimmy Carson and and Martin Jalon. I think those were the three like that was a kid line. They went all the way to the Stanley Cup finals and I think they won or they were you know my history might not be great but if I remember correctly those three guys played at a very young age and they played real well together. Obviously they had long careers. So, um they’re if you keep putting a an age on a player, you never you got to see them for the player they are. Um you know, because you’re 27 or 28 years old, that doesn’t mean you’re the the go-to guy. There may be a 22y old that’s playing better or gives the team more. Um you know, so age is I don’t know if age is a good barrier anymore. just take a look at the player and see what you have. After that Buffalo game, you had spoke to the group about tightening things up defensively. Over these last two games, what has stood out to you in terms of some of those areas that is there a more conscious effort in some areas in terms of defense? What have you seen from game management? It’s the last six periods have been night and day different than than seven periods ago. That seventh period against Buffalo was, you know, I think we’ve hashed that out enough and keep bringing it up, but our game management in the last six periods has been um boatloads better and you know, I think we’ve given up one five on five goal in in that time. So, we can do it if we’re willing to pay attention to it and make it a priority. um which has happened over the last six periods, but it’s it again it has to continue. Is everyone available? Uh I’m not sure if Elmer will be still. Elmer’s been been fighting a an injury. Um he hasn’t been available to us, so he’s he skated today. Um we’ll see how he is, but doubtful. Gibson tomorrow. Okay. Yep.

Emmitt Finnie and Todd McLellan speak with the media following Detroit’s practice on Wednesday November 19, 2025 at the BELFOR Training Center.