Done deal: Red wings signs NHL entry level deal with new forward.

KAMLOOPS — Emmitt Finnie of the Kamloops Blazers has signed a National Hockey League entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings made the news public on Tuesday (March 26) in a social media post.

Finnie was selected by the Red Wings 201st overall in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

The 18-year-old forward racked up 19 goals and 59 points in 62 games with the Blazers in the 2023-2024 Western Hockey League season.

The Red Wings said Finnie will report to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, on an amateur tryout for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.

The Griffins’ next game is on Wednesday (March 27) at home against the Cleveland Monsters

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Red Wings set for crucial battle with Capitals: ‘If we beat them, we’re in a playoff spot’

The heavily contested race for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference continues Tuesday with a crucial matchup between the Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings.

The Capitals have surged to hold the playoff spot entering Tuesday’s game, sitting one point ahead of Detroit with a game in hand.

The Red Wings, who have struggled at 3-7-0 in their past 10, are looking to bounce back after suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Nashville Predators to open their current five-game road trip on the weekend.

“It’s a fun time of year,” said veteran(opens in a new tab) Patrick Kane, who is in his first season with the Red Wings. “It’s almost like you’re in the playoffs right now, even though there’s 11 games left. You look at tomorrow like it’s a playoff game. Obviously it’s a team ahead of us in the standings. If we beat them, we’re in a playoff spot. I know they have a game in hand, but they’re playing really well right now.

“It’ll be a good test for us, but these games are fun to play in.”

After appearing to be in strong position to hold onto their playoff spot at the end of February, a seven-game losing streak for the Red Wings reopened the playoff race. Detroit has gone 3-2-0 since their losing skid, trading the final wild-card spot with the Capitals over the past week as the New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins all lurch behind.