Emmitt Finnie’s readiness for the NHL may stem from the reality that nothing came easy for him when his journey began. “He’s a seventh-round pick and here’s what happens,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said.

DETROIT – Emmitt Finnie lined up for the opening faceoff Sunday opposite a pair of Hall-of-Famers and then proceeded to show why the Detroit Red Wings kept the 20-year-old former seventh-round draft pick on their season-opening roster.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin had two-word praise of his teammate and linemate, Emmitt Finnie, amid their hot streak.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård gets the nod to fill in Patrick Kane's spot for the Detroit Red Wings due to an upper-body injury.

What a weekend for Detroit. They beat both Tampa and Edmonton to extend their winning streak to 5 games, capping off a succesful homestand against tough teams.

The Detroit Red Wings have the best problem in the NHL right now, and it looks like they will solve it sooner than later.

The young forward’s big-league exploits come nine days after former Blazers teammate Harrison Brunicke recorded his first NHL goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the New York Islanders.

With top-line minutes alongside Detroit’s stars, this rookie is capitalizing on an ideal situation while other Calder contenders face challenges, putting him firmly in the conversation for rookie of the year.