Coach Todd McLellan’s preparation for today’s key game against the Buffalo Sabres didn’t seem to include time for concern over the rookie Emmitt Finnie eight-game pointless slump.

“Confidence in him hasn’t gone or diminished at all,” McLellan said.

Finnie is third on the team with 32 hits in 17 games, and he will likely be with JT Compher and Patrick Kane today on the second line.

“Just erase everything we know.” McLellan said. “And if we said that we’d have a seventh-round draft pick that hadn’t really played any pro hockey playing for us 19 games in and playing a prominent role, we would all be happy.”

In other words, they are happy with Finnie’s overall play to the point that offense from him is an extra.

“He does so much extra work for a lot of guys,” McLellan said. “He cleans up messes on the way back because he skates so well. He loosens up pucks on the forecheck, he’ll go to the net, he stirs things up a little bit, draws some penalties. There’s a lot of assets there. So the confidence in him hasn’t gone or diminished at all.”

WELCOME TO THE LEAGUE EMMITT FINNIE ‼️ pic.twitter.com/nB7hXsVH3r

— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) October 19, 2025

 

Red Wings In Case You Missed

The Grand Rapids Griffins beat the Toronto Marlies 5-2 to give them 21 out of a possible 22 points this season. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Amadeus Lombardi scored in the win.

Goalie John Gibson is fine after leaving Thursday’s game. He’s starting today.

Rookie defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka had his lowest playing time total of the season in Thursday’s win against the Anaheim Ducks.

Red Wings Extra

The Griffins released former University of Michigan captain Nolan Moyle from his tryout contract to let him rejoin the Toledo Walleye. The Royal Oak native played games in the KHL last season.

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